Biezenski, Maximilian

Photograph of Max Biezenski standing in front of a bookshelf.

Maximilian Biezenski

Ph.D. Student

Philosophy

Research Interests

Ancient Philosophy, Stoicism, Inuit Philosophy, Eastern Philosophy, Continental Philosophy, Existentialism, Philosophy of life/living

Biography

  • B.A. Honours (Philosophy), University of Regina
  • M.A. (Philosophy), 黑料吃瓜资源
  • M.A. (Classics), 黑料吃瓜资源

Maximilian鈥檚 research follows a theme of holism in the sense of philosophies that take an interest in life as we live it as primary to their projects. This theme is sometimes categorized as philosophy of life or living, or philosophy as a way of life. Maximilian鈥檚 interest in this subject began with Greek philosophy and the paradigmatic example of Socrates. While Greek and Roman philosophy, especially Stoicism, remain of significant interest, Maximilian鈥檚 research into this area extends also, for example, into Eastern philosophy, Existentialism, and Canadian Indigenous philosophies.

While themes of how to live often fall into the field of ethics, the emphasis of Maximilian鈥檚 research is less concerned with correct normative and moral prescriptions and more interested in grappling with life as we come face to face with it, how to understand it and what to do about it. Maximilian鈥檚 first MA thesis (Philosophy) explores parallels between 20th century Existentialism and Eastern philosophy. His second MA thesis (Classics) investigates the current popularity of Ancient Stoicism.

Maximilian鈥檚 doctoral research continues to explore Stoicism and its value in application, in addition to finding connections with other systems of holistic philosophical thought, especially such as Inuit philosophy, which Maximilian has a special interest in as an Inuit person himself. Aiding his research, Maximilian also works on skill in Greek, Latin, and Inuktitut.

Publications

鈥淐ylinders and Doctors: Properly Understanding Stoic Compatibilism.鈥 CERES 6 (2024): 12鈥17.

Think Grad Studies Events

Start Date

Tuesday November 12, 2024

End Date

Thursday November 21, 2024

Time

4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Location

Gordon Hall, Room 302

Panel Discussions and Meet and Greet - November 12, 13, 19, & 21, 2024, from 4:30-6:30 pm

Find out if grad school might be the right fit for you.

Interested in grad school? Join us for a panel discussion with our current graduate students to find out why you should consider grad studies. Panel discussions will be followed by an informal meet and greet, where you can chat with our mentors, have a snack, and get answers to all of your questions.

For more information, please click: Think Grad Studies Poster.

Mohsen Samiee Zafarghandi

Mohsen Samiee Zafarghandi

Mohsen Samiee Zafarghandi

Visiting Scholar

Philosophy

I'm Mohsen, a Ph.D. candidate researching the philosophy of education, particularly how language fuels verbal creativity in teacher-student interactions. My dissertation focuses on analyzing verbal creativity through the lens of speech act theory, seeking to understand whether teachers can employ social strategies to enhance students' verbal engagement and learning. My research is driven by a belief in the power of language to shape both individual and collective learning experiences. I'm particularly interested in how we can create more inclusive and equitable classrooms where every student can flourish. This passion for educational justice informs my work, and I aim to explore its complexities through the lenses of political and ethical philosophy. My philosophical heroes include Austin, Searle, and Hegel. I also admire David Bakhurst, Queen's faculty advisor, for his unique teaching style and personality, and Tehran faculty advisor Mrs. Afzal Hosseini, for her years of efforts to develop critical and creative thinking.

When I'm not immersed in academic pursuits, I enjoy exploring the world of literature through novels and storytelling. Connect with me if you're interested in The philosophy of education, Language and learning Verbal creativity Educational justice Speech act theory Social strategies in the classroom.

Serrin Rutledge-Prior

Serrin

Serrin Rutledge-Prior

Postdoctoral Fellow

Philosophy

Arts and Science

Education

PhD, BSc (ANU)

BA, DipLang (Adelaide)

Research Interests

Animal politics; animal ethics; political theory; history of political thought

黑料吃瓜资源

Serrin began a Postdoctoral Fellowship in animal ethics in the Philosophy Department at Queens University in 2024. Here, she will primarily be working on a couple of research projects: one that explores how we can better recognise and respond to the agency of animals in interpersonal, political, and legal contexts, and another which seeks to acknowledge and reimagine the role of animals within the history of Western political thought. Beyond these topics, she is also interested the role of animal advocates in the public sphere, and when or whether civil 鈥 or even uncivil 鈥 disobedience on behalf of animals can be justified. Prior to coming to Queens, Serrin was a Visiting Researcher at the Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law (2024), and a Research Fellow at the Australian National Universitys Crawford School of Public Policy (2023-24). She has also volunteered for several years with one of Australias first community legal centres dedicated to issues in animal law: the , based in Canberra/Ngunnawal Country. Serrins first book, tentatively titled Multispecies Legality: Animals and the Foundation of Legal Inclusion, is under contract with Cambridge University Press. You can find out more about her research here:

Select Journal Articles

Addressing the will theory challenge to animal rights. 2024. Political Studies.

Political representation, the environment, and Edmund Burke: A re-reading of the Western canon through the lens of multispecies justice. 2024. European Journal of Political Theory. (With Edmund Handby)

Vegans and green-collared criminals鈥: The depoliticization of animal advocacy in public discourse. 2024. Polity 56(1): 91鈥117.

Criminalising (cubes of) truth: Animal advocacy, civil disobedience, and the politics of sight. 2022. Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy.

Teaching

PHIL 296 Animals and Society

Turning the walls that divide us into bridges of communication

Walls to Bridges is a community-engaged learning program that began in 2011 as a partnership between Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, Ontario and the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Read more on this profile on the Walls to Bridges program, posted by the Principal's Office.

Turning the walls that divide us into bridges of communication

B茅dard, L茅onard

Black and white photograph of Leonard Bedard

L茅onard B茅dard

Ph.D. Student

Philosophy

Research Interests:

Political philosophy, Philosophy of Law, Territorial Justice, Ethics of Immigration, Ethics of Policymaking 

Biography:

  • BA (Philosophy) Laval University
  • MA (Philosophy) Laval University

L茅onard鈥檚 (he/him il/lui) work primarily focuses on political issues related to migration and territorial justice. Currently, his main research project examines territorial injustices resulting from Canadian border practices, with particular attention to the experiences of asylum seekers. Additionally, his work explores social exclusion in democratic societies and the ethical dimensions of policymaking.

He is a . In 2023, he was a visiting graduate student in the Department of Public Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

L茅onard currently serves as co-editor of and is a graduate researcher affiliated with the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations in the School of Public Policy at 黑料吃瓜资源.

(Forthcoming, June 2025) Pr茅dire pour 鈥渕ieux exclure鈥 脡tude de la strat茅gie de transformation de Los Angeles en ville intelligente, in Parizeau, M-H., Sze Ang, J-M., & Kash, S. (eds.), Les villes intelligentes : le mirage num茅rique? Perspectives philosophiques. Les Presses de l鈥橴niversit茅 Laval.

(with J. Gosselin-Tapp, F. C么t茅, & S-E. Mossu) (2024) 鈥淧ar-del脿 l鈥檕bligation d鈥檈xploiter le territoire. Autod茅termination des communaut茅s locales et transition 茅nerg茅tique au Qu茅bec 禄, Canadian Journal of Political Science, 57(3), 532-552.

Colloquium in Legal and Political Philosophy: Alex Lefebvre (Sydney)

Date

Monday November 25, 2024
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Location

Zoom

Members of the 黑料吃瓜资源 community are invited to join, via Zoom, the final workshop of the 2024 , which will welcome Alex Lefebvre (Sydney).

Note that the Colloquium in Legal and Political Philosophy is a 鈥減re-read鈥 event: guests鈥 papers are circulated beforehand, and participants who wish to ask questions and contribute to the discussion are expected to have read them. The papers, once available, can be found on . The convenors will share the password to access the papers via email.

Colloquium in Legal and Political Philosophy: Richard Bellamy (UCL)

Date

Monday November 11, 2024
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Location

Watson 517

Members of the 黑料吃瓜资源 community are invited to join the next workshop of the 2024 , which will welcome Richard Bellamy (UCL).

Note that the Colloquium in Legal and Political Philosophy is a 鈥減re-read鈥 event: guests鈥 papers are circulated beforehand, and participants who wish to ask questions and contribute to the discussion are expected to have read them. The papers, once available, can be found on . The convenors will share the password to access the papers via email.

Colloquium in Legal and Political Philosophy: Meena Krishnamurthy (Queen's)

Date

Monday October 28, 2024
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Location

Watson 517

Members of the 黑料吃瓜资源 community are invited to join the next workshop of the 2024 , which will welcome Meena Krishnamurthy (Queen's).

Note that the Colloquium in Legal and Political Philosophy is a 鈥減re-read鈥 event: guests鈥 papers are circulated beforehand, and participants who wish to ask questions and contribute to the discussion are expected to have read them. The papers, once available, can be found on . The convenors will share the password to access the papers via email.