Research

My academic research is based in the European philosophical tradition developed by thinkers like Heidegger, Nietzsche, and Foucault. Building from these great minds, I explore a broad range of philosophical topics, from the ethics of technology to the depths of mental illness. Additionally, my studies in East Asian philosophy enrich my understanding of cross-cultural philosophical dialogues surrounding technology, nature, and aesthetics.

  • (Forthcoming) Hubbard, Quint. "A World Loved by Moonlight: Tragedy, Psychosis, and the Humanization of Art Literacy." Existential Analysis 35, no. 2 (July 2024).

This paper delves into often-unspoken realms of human suffering — tragedy and psychosis — to uncover the role that art can play in understanding and overcoming experiences that defy conventional language. Dovetailing from Heidegger’s aesthetics, I explore the unique qualities that make the artistic process such a powerful medium for existential restoration, connecting otherwise disparate individuals to the wider tapestry of humanity.

Publications

Presentations

  • “Heidegger, Art, and Humanity”Chiang Mai University (Thailand) – Guest Lecture, 2022

    Guest lecture on Heidegger, humanism, and cross-cultural aesthetics.

  • “Madness and Conspiracy: Silence’s Unintended Harms” SJSU Alumni Conference, 2023

    Highlights the semantic difficulties in our moderation of speech online, and some potential solutions.

  • “Seeing the World Through Instagram…” SJSU Alumni Conference, 2022

    Explores the unique embodied experience that Instagram affords its users; one which is becoming increasingly embedded in the way we construct our human environments.

Ongoing Projects

Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Technology: Global Ethical Considerations

As digital technologies continue to mediate the fragile relationships between militant nations, I seek to understand: how do ethical considerations in the design and use of digital technologies differ across cultural contexts, and what can these differences tell us about global digital ethics? To explore these questions, I seek to widen the scope of global technological discourse, blending insights from analytic, continental, and non-Western philosophy.

Technology, Nature, and Environmental Aesthetics

My Master’s research traced the evolution of photographic technology, illustrating the ways that each technological advancement redefine our relationship with our environments. I explore this reconfiguration of space and perception, specifically as it relates to self-identity and the aesthetics of everyday environments. To do this, I develop a framework through which we can understand this relationship between user, technology, and environment, ultimately evoking questions about the nature of self-hood, the extended self, and the ontology of “places”.

Scientific Misconduct: Support for Victims, Rehabilitation for Wrongdoers

Presently, I am working to co-publish a series of papers on innovative restorative justice practices and how they might be applied to cases of scientific misconduct. Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, we are conducting interviews with impacted researchers, investigating policy practices, and reviewing the efficacy of remediation programs. In doing so, we strive to create actionable pathways for our universities to support those affected, repair harm done to academic communities, and rehabilitate those who perpetuate harmful research practices.