I teach philosophy at Boston University and specialize in ethics, political philosophy, method, and metaphysics in seventeenth and eighteenth century philosophy. I have longstanding interests in Spinoza and Hume, but lately I've focused more on general problems than on particular authors. I am writing a book on moral philosophy from Grotius to Bentham (which may end up as two books) that tries to explain how many of the normative and meta-ethical concepts we are familiar with -- from moral motivation to unalienable rights -- first arose in response to Hobbes and then in response to Mandeville's revival of Hobbes.
I am also interested in the philosophy of art, and in particular philosophy of film and of music. In my spare time I watch a lot of films, listen to a lot of music, and think a lot about both. Some topics I'm particularly interested in are flow in many types of music (jazz, flamenco, electronica, classical, hip hop, etc.), the way in which DJs create new music out of other music, montage and sound in film, and in trying to understand how we experience both film and music as art.
Unsurprisingly I love film that uses music well. Here's one, and another also from Claire Denis, another from one of my favorite recent films, and yet another from my favorite film of last year! Another one from a genius. A great one from Pasolini, and an extraordinary example of how familiar music can make something miserable even more miserable.
For soundtrack music Hitchcock is always the master class but this matches the master IMHO.
I am also interested in the philosophy of art, and in particular philosophy of film and of music. In my spare time I watch a lot of films, listen to a lot of music, and think a lot about both. Some topics I'm particularly interested in are flow in many types of music (jazz, flamenco, electronica, classical, hip hop, etc.), the way in which DJs create new music out of other music, montage and sound in film, and in trying to understand how we experience both film and music as art.
Unsurprisingly I love film that uses music well. Here's one, and another also from Claire Denis, another from one of my favorite recent films, and yet another from my favorite film of last year! Another one from a genius. A great one from Pasolini, and an extraordinary example of how familiar music can make something miserable even more miserable.
For soundtrack music Hitchcock is always the master class but this matches the master IMHO.