Diana Mertz Hsieh: Overworked Graduate Student in Philosophy

What's New

NoodleFood is always the most frequently updated section of this web site.

Published Papers

"Egoism Explained: A Review of Tara Smith's Ayn Rand's Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist" – Published in the Spring 2007 issue of The Objective Standard.

"Dursley Duplicity: The Morality and Psychology of Self-Deception" – Published in the 2004 anthology Harry Potter and Philosophy, Open Court, pages 22-37.

"False Excuses: Honesty, Wrongdoing, and Moral Growth" – Published in 2004 in the Journal of Value Inquiry, Volume 38, Number 2, pages 171-185.

Conference Papers

False Excuses and Moral Growth – Paper presented at the 6th International Carnegie Mellon-University of Pittsburgh Graduate Philosophy Conference. Given on 20 March 2004. 4215 words. Also: PowerPoint Presentation.

Graduate Papers, University of Colorado at Boulder

Stillborn Ends – Paper for Contemporary Moral Theories (Ben Hale, Spring 2006) on the major defects in David Schmidtz's attempt to ground final ends in "maieutic ends." Completed on 3 May 2007. 5663 words.

Descartes and Newton on Body – Paper for Medieval Origins of Modern Philosophy (Robert Pasnau, Spring 2006) on Descartes' account of the nature of body and Newton's criticisms thereof. Completed on 15 April 2007. 6660 words.

Locke on Human Action – Paper for Locke (Dan Kaufman, Fall 2004) on Locke's mechanistic theory of the generation of human action. Completed on 14 March 2007. 6758 words.

Better Good Than Lucky: The Illusion of Constitutive Moral Luck – 5th Semester Qualifying Paper on the failure of Nagel's constitutive moral luck in the face of Aristotle's account of moral responsibility for character. Completed on 7 December 2006. 10717 words.

On the Margins of Humanity – Paper for Animals and Ethics (David Boonin, Fall 2004) on the marginal humans argument for animal rights. Completed on 19 December 2005. 6598 words.

The Inevitability of Alternative Possibilities – Paper for Freedom and Responsibility (Michael McKenna, Spring 2005) on the defects of contemporary compatibilist arguments against alternative possibilities. Completed on 6 May 2005. 5643 words.

Animal Wrongs – Paper for Environmental Philosophy (Alan Carter, Spring 2004) on the common failures of Tom Regan's arguments for animal rights and Peter Singer's arguments for animal liberation. Completed on 4 May 2005. 9908 words.

Better Morally Good Than Morally Lucky: The Illusion of Constitutive Moral Luck – Paper for Topics in Values (Phil 5290, David Boonin) on an Aristotelian response to Thomas Nagel's arguments for constitutive moral luck. Completed on 4 May 2005. 8376 words.

Desire, Reason, and Action – Paper for Aristotle (Christopher Shields, Fall 2003) on Aristotle's action theory. Completed on 13 December 2004. 8844 words.

Hume the Cause, Kant the Effect – Paper for Kant (Robert Hanna, Fall 2004) on Kant's theory of causation as a response to Humean skepticism. Completed on 14 December 2004. 3948 words.

Kant on Unity in Experience – Paper for Kant (Robert Hanna, Fall 2004) on Kant's theory of the transcendental unity of apperception. Completed on 15 November 2004. 4766 words.

Kant on Time – Paper for Kant (Robert Hanna, Fall 2004) on Kant's theory of time as a form of sensibility. Completed on 28 September 2004. 3231 words.

Demons and Dreams – Paper for Epistemology (Michael Huemer, Fall 2003) on skepticism and certainty. Completed on 12 December 2003. 5018 words.

Minds in Action – Paper for Mental Causation and Intentional Action (Robert Hanna, Spring 2003) on Searle's action theory. Completed on 7 May 2003. 3062 words.

Ethics as a Science – Paper for Ethics (Luc Bovens, Spring 2003) on Kant's and Mill's ethics. Completed on 3 May 2003. 7301 words.

Actions and Causes – Paper for Mental Causation and Intentional Action (Robert Hanna, Spring 2003) on Frankfurt's action theory. Completed on 8 April 2003. 2523 words.

Mental Causation Through Constitution – Paper for Mental Causation and Intentional Action (Robert Hanna, Spring 2003) on non-reductive materialism. 6 March 2003. 4149 words.

The Habits of Aristotle – Paper for Aristotle (Thomas Robinson, Fall 2002) on Aristotle's theory of moral habits. Completed on 13 December 2002. 3733 words.

Functions and Qualia – Paper for Philosophy of Mind (Robert Hanna, Fall 2002) on functionalism. Completed on 12 November 2002. 3757 words.

The Soul of Aristotle – Paper for Aristotle (Thomas Robinson, Fall 2002) on Aristotle's philosophy of mind. Completed on 29 October 2002. 3650 words.

Doubting the Doubt: An Analysis of the Internal Tensions of Cartesian Substance Dualism – Paper for Philosophy of Mind (Robert Hanna, Fall 2002) on Descartes' philosophy of mind. Completed on 8 October 2002. 3709 words.

The Substance of Early Aristotle – Paper for Aristotle (Thomas Robinson, Fall 2002)on Aristotle's views of substance. Completed on 1 October 2002. 1924 words.

Graduate Presentations, University of Colorado at Boulder

Defending Alternative Possibilities – Presentation for Freedom and Responsibility (Michael McKenna, Spring 2005) on defenses of the principle of alternative possibilities. Given on 1 February 2005.

The Initiation of Action – Presentation for Aristotle (Christopher Shields, Fall 2003) on Aristotle's action theory. Given on 10 December 2003. Also: PowerPoint Presentation.

Adaptationism, Schmadaptationism – Presentation for Environmental Philosophy (Alan Carter, Spring 2004) on adaptationism. Given on 27 January 2004.

Virtue Ethics: Theory or Not, Here I Come! – Presentation for Ethics (Luc Bovens, Spring 2003) on Sloate's version of virtue ethics. Given on 1 May 2003.

Lectures

The Virtue of Honesty – Presentation on honesty to the Front Range Objectivist Group. Given on 9 March 2002. 3793 words. (Lecture notes only.)

Liar Liar Pants on Fire – Lecture to the Washington Metro Objectivism Discussion, 30 minutes. Given on 10 February 2002. 2691 words. (Lecture notes only.)

Why Be An Atheist? – Lecture to the San Diego Ayn Rand Salon, 45 minutes. Given on 21 November 1999. 5389 words.

Miscellany

False Objectivism – Commentary on David Kelley, Nathaniel and Barbara Branden, and related matters.

Toastmasters Speeches – Speech notes only.

Front Sight, Ignatius Piazza, and Scientology? – The web site that precipitated the (now settled) lawsuit against me.

Definitions of Fallacies – Compiled in August 1995.

About Me

I am a graduate student in philosophy at the University of Colorado at Boulder in the process of finishing up my coursework. Although my interests range from metaphysics to aesthetics, I'm specializing in virtue ethics. (I earned my B.A. in philosophy from Washington University in St. Louis in 1997. I also worked as a web programmer in years past.) I live on a small farm in Sedalia, Colorado with my husband Paul, as well as a small menagerie of beasts. I can be reached via e-mail to diana(at)dianahsieh.com. (The inclusion of a writing on my web site ought not be regarded as necessarily representative of my current views.)

What's New
	NoodleFood is always the most frequently updated section of this web site.

Published Papers
	"Egoism Explained: A Review of Tara Smith's Ayn Rand's Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist" – Published in the Spring 2007 issue of The Objective Standard.
	"Dursley Duplicity: The Morality and Psychology of Self-Deception" – Published in the 2004 anthology Harry Potter and Philosophy, Open Court, pages 22-37.
	"False Excuses: Honesty, Wrongdoing, and Moral Growth" – Published in 2004 in the Journal of Value Inquiry, Volume 38, Number 2, pages 171-185.

Conference Papers
	False Excuses and Moral Growth – Paper presented at the 6th International Carnegie Mellon-University of Pittsburgh Graduate Philosophy Conference. Given on 20 March 2004. 4215 words. Also: PowerPoint Presentation.

Graduate Papers, University of Colorado at Boulder
	Stillborn Ends – Paper for Contemporary Moral Theories (Ben Hale, Spring 2006) on the major defects in David Schmidtz's attempt to ground final ends in "maieutic ends." Completed on 3 May 2007. 5663 words.
	Descartes and Newton on Body – Paper for Medieval Origins of Modern Philosophy (Robert Pasnau, Spring 2006) on Descartes' account of the nature of body and Newton's criticisms thereof. Completed on 15 April 2007. 6660 words.
	Locke on Human Action – Paper for Locke (Dan Kaufman, Fall 2004) on Locke's mechanistic theory of the generation of human action. Completed on 14 March 2007. 6758 words.
	Better Good Than Lucky: The Illusion of Constitutive Moral Luck – 5th Semester Qualifying Paper on the failure of Nagel's constitutive moral luck in the face of Aristotle's account of moral responsibility for character. Completed on 7 December 2006. 10717 words.
	On the Margins of Humanity – Paper for Animals and Ethics (David Boonin, Fall 2004) on the marginal humans argument for animal rights. Completed on 19 December 2005. 6598 words.
	The Inevitability of Alternative Possibilities – Paper for Freedom and Responsibility (Michael McKenna, Spring 2005) on the defects of contemporary compatibilist arguments against alternative possibilities. Completed on 6 May 2005. 5643 words.
	Animal Wrongs – Paper for Environmental Philosophy (Alan Carter, Spring 2004) on the common failures of Tom Regan's arguments for animal rights and Peter Singer's arguments for animal liberation. Completed on 4 May 2005. 9908 words.
	Better Morally Good Than Morally Lucky: The Illusion of Constitutive Moral Luck – Paper for Topics in Values (Phil 5290, David Boonin) on an Aristotelian response to Thomas Nagel's arguments for constitutive moral luck. Completed on 4 May 2005. 8376 words.
	Desire, Reason, and Action – Paper for Aristotle (Christopher Shields, Fall 2003) on Aristotle's action theory. Completed on 13 December 2004. 8844 words.
	Hume the Cause, Kant the Effect – Paper for Kant (Robert Hanna, Fall 2004) on Kant's theory of causation as a response to Humean skepticism. Completed on 14 December 2004. 3948 words.
	Kant on Unity in Experience – Paper for Kant (Robert Hanna, Fall 2004) on Kant's theory of the transcendental unity of apperception. Completed on 15 November 2004. 4766 words.
	Kant on Time – Paper for Kant (Robert Hanna, Fall 2004) on Kant's theory of time as a form of sensibility. Completed on 28 September 2004. 3231 words.
	Demons and Dreams – Paper for Epistemology (Michael Huemer, Fall 2003) on skepticism and certainty. Completed on 12 December 2003. 5018 words.
	Minds in Action – Paper for Mental Causation and Intentional Action (Robert Hanna, Spring 2003) on Searle's action theory. Completed on 7 May 2003. 3062 words.
	Ethics as a Science – Paper for Ethics (Luc Bovens, Spring 2003) on Kant's and Mill's ethics. Completed on 3 May 2003. 7301 words.
	Actions and Causes – Paper for Mental Causation and Intentional Action (Robert Hanna, Spring 2003) on Frankfurt's action theory. Completed on 8 April 2003. 2523 words.
	Mental Causation Through Constitution – Paper for Mental Causation and Intentional Action (Robert Hanna, Spring 2003) on non-reductive materialism. 6 March 2003. 4149 words.
	The Habits of Aristotle – Paper for Aristotle (Thomas Robinson, Fall 2002) on Aristotle's theory of moral habits. Completed on 13 December 2002. 3733 words.
	Functions and Qualia – Paper for Philosophy of Mind (Robert Hanna, Fall 2002) on functionalism. Completed on 12 November 2002. 3757 words.
	The Soul of Aristotle – Paper for Aristotle (Thomas Robinson, Fall 2002) on Aristotle's philosophy of mind. Completed on 29 October 2002. 3650 words.
	Doubting the Doubt: An Analysis of the Internal Tensions of Cartesian Substance Dualism – Paper for Philosophy of Mind (Robert Hanna, Fall 2002) on Descartes' philosophy of mind. Completed on 8 October 2002. 3709 words.
	The Substance of Early Aristotle – Paper for Aristotle (Thomas Robinson, Fall 2002)on Aristotle's views of substance. Completed on 1 October 2002. 1924 words.

Graduate Presentations, University of Colorado at Boulder
	Defending Alternative Possibilities – Presentation for Freedom and Responsibility (Michael McKenna, Spring 2005) on defenses of the principle of alternative possibilities. Given on 1 February 2005.
	The Initiation of Action – Presentation for Aristotle (Christopher Shields, Fall 2003) on Aristotle's action theory. Given on 10 December 2003. Also: PowerPoint Presentation.
	Adaptationism, Schmadaptationism – Presentation for Environmental Philosophy (Alan Carter, Spring 2004) on adaptationism. Given on 27 January 2004.
	Virtue Ethics: Theory or Not, Here I Come! – Presentation for Ethics (Luc Bovens, Spring 2003) on Sloate's version of virtue ethics. Given on 1 May 2003.

Lectures
	The Virtue of Honesty – Presentation on honesty to the Front Range Objectivist Group. Given on 9 March 2002. 3793 words. (Lecture notes only.)
	Liar Liar Pants on Fire – Lecture to the Washington Metro Objectivism Discussion, 30 minutes. Given on 10 February 2002. 2691 words. (Lecture notes only.)
	Why Be An Atheist? – Lecture to the San Diego Ayn Rand Salon, 45 minutes. Given on 21 November 1999. 5389 words.

Miscellany
	False Objectivism – Commentary on David Kelley, Nathaniel and Barbara Branden, and related matters.
	Toastmasters Speeches – Speech notes only.
	Front Sight, Ignatius Piazza, and Scientology? – The web site that precipitated the (now settled) lawsuit against me.
	Definitions of Fallacies – Compiled in August 1995.

About Me
	I am a graduate student in philosophy at the University of Colorado at Boulder in the process of finishing up my coursework. Although my interests range from metaphysics to aesthetics, I'm specializing in virtue ethics. (I earned my B.A. in philosophy from Washington University in St. Louis in 1997. I also worked as a web programmer in years past.) I live on a small farm in Sedalia, Colorado with my husband Paul, as well as a small menagerie of beasts. I can be reached via e-mail to diana(at)dianahsieh.com. (The inclusion of a writing on my web site ought not be regarded as necessarily representative of my current views.)