Rich Eva
PhD Candidate Philosophy
We recently spoke with Rich Eva, a fourth-year Ph.D. Candidate in Philosophy at Baylor. Baylor's Philosophy department is renown for placing their graduating PhD students—with some of the highest rates in the nation. In a field like Philosophy this means Baylor has a leading voice. Rich shared his research and passions with us through his overarching research question: How do I live a good life? Read on to learn why Rich chose the direction he did for his research on the good life and how he is using that to ask other questions that impact our political and social environments every day.
Why did you choose to attend Baylor for Graduate School?
Baylor's philosophy department features top-notch professors who care about the success of their graduate students. As a result, they have achieved one of the best placement rates in the English-speaking world. This is a testimony to their hard work and dedication.
What are your research interests?
My overarching question is this: How do I live a good life? This question is followed by an equally difficult question: How do I live a good life with others who disagree with me about what counts as a good life? This leads me to ask questions in ethics, social and political philosophy, history of philosophy, philosophy of law, and philosophy of religion. Specifically, I have been thinking about politicization, democracy, tolerance, competitiveness, the virtue of wonder, and the vice of hurry.
What opportunities or implications stem from your research?
Political polarization is a hot topic in various disciplines, and politicization is intimately related to polarization. Work needs to be done to illuminate the nature of their relationship. Additionally, I wonder what character traits or attitudes incline one to politicize. Are these traits virtues or vices?
What research excites you right now?
I am excited to define the concept of politicization. The term “politicize” is often thrown around in public discourse, typically to condemn one’s political opponents. You have probably heard claims like, “Trump politicized the DOJ” or “Kaepernick politicized the NFL.” We have a general sense of what these propositions mean, but it can be difficult to specify their meaning. My goal is to sort that out. Given that the term is used to praise and blame, it is crucial that we understand exactly what politicization is. Only then can we ask whether it is good or bad.
How does Baylor help you achieve your research?
At Baylor, I feel supported as a graduate student. There are numerous opportunities for connecting with other graduate students, so I’ve developed a broad network of colleagues. Baylor also has opportunities for showcasing graduate student research. Finally, Baylor provides opportunities for professional and teaching development which I have been fortunate to partake in.
Featured Publications
I have a paper forthcoming in Environmental Ethics:
- “Thomistic Environmental Ethics: God’s Artistic Property.”
And here are my two most recent publications:
- “Revolutionary Neighbor-Love: Kierkegaard, Marx, and Social Reform”
- “Religious Liberty and the Alleged Afterlife.”
I’ve also enjoyed writing popular-level pieces like “Becoming a Wonderless Robot” and “Wrestling with Philosophy.”
For more information about my research and teaching you can visit my website here.