I am an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Union College. I'm also affiliated with Gender, Sexuality, & Women's Studies. Previously, I was a Postdoctoral Fellow at UBC. I have taught also at Barnard College of Columbia University and the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. I completed my PhD in Philosophy at UCLA.

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My research is in Metaphysics, Aesthetics, and Philosophy of Language. Much of my research is about abstract artifacts. These are non-physical objects that people create: e.g., novels, symphonies, corporations, languages, words, and fictional characters. Abstract artifacts have ramifications for metaphysical questions about causation, vague existence, vague identity, change, time, and creation. 

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I have other research interests in the meanings of artworks, personal beauty, Jewish identity, and time travel. I'm editing a volume The Philosophy of Ted Chiang, under contract at Palgrave Macmillan. 

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My teaching interests are diverse. I have taught courses in Philosophy of Race and Gender, Environmental Ethics, Biomedical Ethics, Epistemology, Metaphysics, Aesthetics, Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of Sports and Games, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Law, Philosophy and Film, Time Travel, Philosophy of Technology, and Introduction to Philosophy. 

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You can see a short talk I gave on gender and sexuality here.

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David Friedell
Department of Philosophy

Union College

807 Union Street

Schenectady, NY 12308
Email: friedeld@union.edu