Dr. M. Katie Brennan

Areas of Expertise

• Nineteenth-century European philosophy, aesthetics, feminism, ethics

Education

• B.A. in English and philosophy, St. Mary’s College of Maryland (2004)
• M.A.L.A., St. John’s College, Annapolis (2007)
• M.A. in philosophy, SUNY Stony Brook (2009)
• Ph.D. in philosophy, Temple University (2019)

What's My Why?

As a teacher, I aim to demonstrate the real life, modern day relevance of philosophical texts, ancient and modern.  I feel it is essential to meet students where they are, to listen to them, and to take seriously their ideas. Philosophical education is one of the best ways of showing students that there are different ways to think about the problems we face in society and in life. By analyzing these problems from a myriad of different perspectives, students have a chance to think critically and develop their own toolkit for dealing with our ever-changing world. 

Selected Publications

"The Nihilism of the Oppressed: Hedwig Dohm’s Feminist Critique of Nietzschean Nihilism." The Journal of Nietzsche Studies, vol. 52, 2021, pp. 209-233.

"Nietzsche’s Hamlet Puzzle: Life Affirmation in The Birth of Tragedy." The Routledge Companion to Shakespeare and Philosophy, edited by Craig Bourne and Emily Caddick Bourne, Routledge, 2019.

"The Wisdom of Silenus: Suffering in The Birth of Tragedy." The Journal of Nietzsche Studies, vol. 49, 2018, pp. 174-193.