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Philosophy

Allison Merrick, Assitant Professor

Image of Allison Merrick

Office: Stabler Hall, Room 307
Phone: 501-683-7174
Email: axmerrick@ualr.edu

Introduction

A rather off the cuff recommendation led me to the discipline of philosophy: I was an undergraduate in search of an elective course, and a good friend suggested I take “Introduction to Philosophy” with a rather charismatic Professor. I took the course and still marvel what a fortunate turn of events it was. In addition to majoring in philosophy and history, I was a goalkeeper for the University of California, Irvine Women’s Soccer team.

Teaching Interests

I enjoy teaching a number of different courses though I have a particular affinity for Ethics, Modern Philosophy, Philosophy of Art, and Existentialism. I am also looking forward to teaching a course on the philosophy of Immanuel Kant.

As a coach of the Ethics Bowl team, I am also currently researching theories of service learning as well as applications of philosophical methods to non-academic environments.

Research Interests

My current research agenda focuses upon Nietzsche’s critique of morality as relayed through his genealogical methodology.

A bit further afield, I’m interested in exploring the emancipatory potential the genealogical method may harbor, particularly in its application to race, as seen, for instance, in the recent work of Ladelle McWhorter and Cornel West.

Selected Professional Activities

  • “Nietzsche, Reason, and History” 18th International Conference of the Friedrich Nietzsche Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen Mary College, University of London, England, September 2011.
  • “Towards a Future Pregnant with Becoming: Deleuze on ‘Becoming’ as Opposed to ‘History”” The Revolution of Time and Time of Revolution Conference, State University of New York, Binghamton, March 2011.
  • “Nietzsche, Genealogy and the Immanence of Critique” 2010 Goucher College Women in Philosophy Workshop: Bridging Traditions, Goucher College, Maryland, March 2010.
  • “Nietzsche: the Art of History.” 48th Annual Conference of the Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy (SPEP), George Mason University, Virginia, U.S.A. October 2009.
  • “On Memory, Historical Sense, and the Art of Self-Knowledge.” 17th International Conference of the Friedrich Nietzsche Society of Great Britain and Ireland, St. Peter’s College, Oxford, England, September 2009.
  • “Nietzsche’s Genealogy: History or Fiction? ” 2009 Joint Session of the Aristotelian Society and the Mind Association, University of East Anglia, England, July 2009.
  • “The ‘Roots’ of a Rhizome: Nietzsche and Deleuze.” Double Edges: Rhetorics, Rhizomes, Regions: 33rd International Association of Philosophy and Literature (IAPL) Annual Conference, Brunel University, West London, England, June 2009.

Educational Background

Ph.D., Philosophy
University of Southampton, England

M.A., Philosophy
California State University, Long Beach

B.A., History and Philosophy
University of California, Irvine

Updated 9.6.2011