Graduate Student, Kennedy Institute of Ethics
Georgetown University, Philosophy
PhD Candidate
Thesis Title: The Ethics of Health Nudges
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Maggie Little (co-advisor))
Madison Powers (co-advisor) Bob Veatch (reader) Peter Ubel (external reader) Daniel Andler (external reader) |
About
AOS: Bioethics, Ethical Theory, Political Philosophy
AOC: History of Ancient and Modern Philosophy, Philosophy of Cognitive Science
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Philosophy at Georgetown University working at the intersection of bioethics, ethical theory, political philosophy, and cognitive science.
My dissertation is titled, "The Ethics of Health Nudges." Behavioral economist Dick Thaler and law scholar Cass Sunstein coined the term “nudge” to refer to efficacious influence attempts that trigger individuals’ “automatic” cognitive processes while preserving “freedom of choice.” Nudges have the potential to contribute to disease prevention and treatment, especially through population-wide interventions. My dissertation seeks to contribute to the ethics of health nudges through an in-depth study of the conceptual, ethical, and political issues they raise. More generally, it explores a grey area in the relationship between individuals and powerful private and public institutions. I have recently written an article entitled, "Salvaging the Concept of Nudge" (under review). In a related project, I investigate the tension between behavioral conditionality (e.g., Conditional Cash Transfer Programs) and the demands of solidarity.
Recently, I have co-written an article with Madison Powers and Ruth Faden entitled, “Liberty, Mill and the framework of public health ethics” (Public Health Ethics 2012). I am also co-writing and contributing to several articles in collaboration with a Johns Hopkins University-Georgetown University Challenge Grant team investigating the conceptual, moral, and policy dimensions of the distinction between research and treatment (led by Tom Beauchamp, Ruth Faden, Steven Goodman, Nancy Kass, Peter Pronovost, and Sean Tunis). As part of the Challenge Grant project, I have co-written an article with Tom Beauchamp entitled, "The historical foundations of the research-practice distinction in bioethics" (Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 2012).
Before joining Georgetown, I received graduate degrees in History of Philosophy from the Sorbonne. My M.A. thesis focused on Spinoza's notion of love (Maîtrise", under André Tosel, University of Paris-I-Panthéon-Sorbonne). My Post-Graduate Degree thesis explored Spinoza' s theory and use of language ("D.E.A.," under Pierre-François Moreau, University of Paris IV–Sorbonne). I was also awarded a Graduate Certificate in Medical Ethics (Henri Mondor Medical School, University of Paris-XII-Créteil).
I have extensive teaching experience, both in my native France and at Georgetown, where I have taught classes on global justice, autonomy in bioethics, the state and individual freedom, individual liberty, the philosophy of psychology, and the philosophy of cognitive science (cross-listed with Psychology).
In my spare time, I teach my Siberian cats Bhima and Belinda circus tricks and successfully nudge them into appreciating (or at least stoically tolerating) atonal music!
