Dr. Chris Nagel
Philosophy Department Faculty
My major current philosophical interests concern the appearing of a wide-awake, living subject who perceives and experiences a meaningful world. If a being I self-reflectively identify as myself, as “I,” is who I am as a perceiver and a being who acts in the world, how do I come to be and to experience myself as this “I”? How does this “I” become a certain kind of perceiver? To what must I be subjected in order to become this perceiver? How must I become exposed and vulnerable? How does exposure and vulnerability relate to my active and projective perceiving?
I’m reading phenomenology, post-structuralism, feminism, and documents related to medicine, psychoanalysis, or anything else. I’m writing about sensuous experience, pleasure and pain, normality and abnormality, orientation and disorientation, proprioception, music, silence, walking, tasting, smelling, and possibly soon running into things. I’m having a marvelous time.
I’m also reading, writing, and engaging in activism about the situation of permanent-temporary employment of the vast majority of college faculty in the US—those, with myself, I like to call “tenuous-track” faculty. As a philosopher, my interest is in the ethical questions this situation presents, in particular under institutional regimes in higher education that often punish tenuous-track faculty for attempting to act according to their professional judgment and responsibility, as delineated in documents like the American Association of University Professors’ Statement on Professional Ethics (http://tinyurl.com/mk8ey9).
For fun, I enjoy playing guitar and cooking, and I’m an avid fan of ice hockey and satire. I have also ridden my bicycle down every street in Turlock.
Education:
- Duquesne University, Ph.D., Philosophy (1996)
- Dissertation: "Merleau-Ponty's Hegelianism"
- Dissertation Director: Professor Fred Evans
- University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, B.A., Philosophy (1990), cum laude
Areas of Specialization
Continental Philosophy (especially Phenomenology), Philosophy of Media and Technology, Applied Ethics
Areas of Competence
History of Modern Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Critical Thinking
Teaching Positions:
California State University, Stanislaus, Lecturer (1998-present)
Courses Taught: Professional Ethics, Business Ethics, Bioethics, Contemporary Moral Issues, Philosophy of Mind, 20th Century Philosophy, Theory of Knowledge, Information & Community, Human Interests and the Power of Information, Introduction to Philosophy, Philosophical Inquiry, Logic
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Part-Time Assistant Professor (1997-98)
Courses Taught: Ethics and Public Policy, Ethics, Introduction to Philosophy, Informal Logic
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, Adjunct Instructor (Summer 1995, Fall 1995)
Course Taught: Logic
Carlow College, Pittsburgh, PA, Instructor (1994-1997)
Courses Taught: Postmodernism, Political Philosophy, Ancient Philosophy, Biomedical Ethics, Logic, Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Moral Reasoning
Clarion University, Clarion, PA, Instructor (Spring 1995)
Courses Taught: Modern Philosophy, Ethics, Introduction to Philosophy
Duquesne University, Graduate Teaching Assistant (1992-1994)
Course Taught: Basic Philosophical Questions
Graduate Student Teaching Award, 1996
Book Contributions:
“Exposure, Absorption, Subjection—Being-in-Media,” in Lester Embree, et. al., eds., Phenomenology 2010, Volume 5, Zeta Books, 2010
“Empathy, Mediation, Media,” in Paul Majkut and Alberto Carillo Canán, eds., Phenomenology and Media, Zeta Books, 2010
“Accounting for Taste,” and “Introduction,” in Matti Itknonen, et. al., eds., The Culture of Food, co-published by University of Jyväskylä and National University, 2006
“A Phenomenology of Noise Experience,” in Matti Itknonen, V.A. Heikkinen & Sam Inkinen, eds., Eletty Tapakulttuuri, Haaga Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, 2004
“Hating in the Global Village,” in Mark Wolf, ed., Virtual Morality, Peter Lang, 2003
“Phenomenology, Authenticity, and Truth in Advertising,” in Carroll, Michael T. and Eddie Tafoya, eds., Phenomenological Approaches to Popular Culture, Bowling Green State U. Press, 2000 (Reprinted in Matti Itknonen and Gary Backhaus, eds., Lived Images, University of Jyväskylä Press, 2003)
“Introduction,” with Carroll, Michael T. and Eddie Tafoya, Phenomenological Approaches to Popular Culture, Bowling Green State U. Press, 2000
(Translation) “The Paradox of Expression,” (Translation from the German of essay by Bernard Waldenfels), in Evans, Fred and Lawlor, Leonard, Chiasms, SUNY Press, 2000
Journal Articles:
“Phenomenology Without ‘the Body?’” Studia Phaenomenologica Volume XII, 2012
“Pornographic Experience,” The Journal of Mundane Behavior Volume 3, Number 1, 2002
“The Gap in Being: Phenomenology Goes Shopping,” with Jim Williams, The Journal of Mundane Behavior Volume 1, Number 3, 2000
“Knowledge, Paradox, and the Primacy of Perception,” Southern Journal of Philosophy, Volume 38, No. 3, Fall 2000
“Intersubjectivity and the Internet,” Analecta Husserliana Volume LIV, 1998
“Hegelianism in Merleau-Ponty’s Philosophy of History,” Philosophy Today, Volume 41, Number 2, Summer 1997
“Sexualities: Merleau-Ponty and Foucault on the Meaning of Sex,” International Studies in Philosophy, Volume 27, Number 1, Spring 1995
Published Papers:
“Exposure, Absorption, Subjection - Being-in-Media,” Glimpse Volume 9, 2007 (republished in Lester Embree, et. al., eds., Phenomenology 2010, Vol.5, Zeta Books,
“‘Community of Communication’ vs. ‘Global Village,’“ Glimpse Volume 4, Number 1, 2003
“Empathy, Mediation, Media,” Glimpse Volume 3, Number 2, 2001
“Virtual Information: A Phenomenology of Ambivalence,” Glimpse Volume 2, Number 1, 2000
“Watching Television,” Glimpse, Volume 1, Number 1, 1999
Book Reviews:
Review of Cataldi and Hamrick, eds., Merleau-Ponty and Environmental Philosophy, in Environmental Ethics, Spring, 2008
Review of Veak, Tyler ed., Democratizing Technology, in Technology and Culture, April, 2008
“Have We Become Posthuman?” review of N. Katherine Hayles, How We Became Posthuman, in Research in Philosophy and Technology, 2002
Review of Robert Williams, Hegel’s Ethics of Recognition, in The Owl of Minerva, Volume 31, Number 2, Spring 2000
Review of Andrew Cutrofello, The Owl at Dawn, in The Owl of Minerva, Volume 28, Number 1, Fall 1996
Review of John McCumber, The Company of Words: Hegel, Language, and Systematic Philosophy, in The Owl of Minerva, Volume 28, Number 1, Fall 1996
Review of Richard Dien Winfield, Overcoming Foundations, in The Owl of Minerva, Volume 26, Number 1, Fall 1994
Paper Presentations:
“Phenomenology of Orientation and Disorientation,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and the Human Sciences, Rochester, NY, November, 2012
“The Element of the Erotic,” presented to the Society for Existential and Phenomenological Theory and Culture, Fredricton, New Brunswick, June, 2011
“College Faculty Professionalism—Ethical Responsibility and Precarious Work,” presented to the American Association of University Professors’ conference on The State of Higher Education, Washington, DC, June, 2011
“Subjection—A Phenomenology of Sensation,” presented to the Society for Existential and Phenomenological Theory and Culture, Montreal, Québec, June, 2010
“Advertising Politics: Juxtaposition, Line-Crossing, Narrative Undecidability in American Television Representations of Politics,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Media, Arlington, VA, February, 2009
“The Silence of Voices,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and the Human Sciences, Pittsburgh, October, 2008
“Exposure, Absorption, Subjection—Being-in-Media,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Media, Buenemerita Universidad de Puebla, February, 2008
“Internet Communities and Phenomenological Orthodoxy,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and the Human Sciences, De Paul University, Chicago, November 2007
“Man Bites Dog,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Media, National University, San Diego, CA, February, 2007
“Paradoxes of Teaching,” (listed in program as “Coordinating Teaching and Learning”) presented to the Society for Phenomenology and the Human Sciences, Philadeliphia, PA, October, 2006
“Fear and Loathing: Objective Journalism,” presented to the Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture Conference, Binghamton University, April 2006
“We’re Doomed: The Limitations of Critique,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Media, National University, La Jolla, CA, February 2006
“Teaching Technology,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Media, Western Oregon University, OR, May, 2005
“Teaching Ethics for a Living,” presented to the Radical Philosophy Association, Washington, DC, November, 2004
“Noise,” presented to the Society for Existential and Phenomenological Theory and Culture, Winnipeg, MB, May, 2004
“Perceptual Faith and Media Power,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Media, Provo, UT, May, 2004
“Conceiving Artificial Life,” presented to the American Philosophical Association (Pacific Davision), Pasadena, CA, March, 2004
“Rhetoric, Propaganda, and the Need for Perceptual Critique,” presented to Concerned Philosophers for Peace, Pacific University, Pacific Grove, OR, October, 2003
“Conceiving Artificial Life,” presented to the International Merleau-Ponty Circle, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, September 2003
“Communities without Others: Husserl and Virtual Community,” presented to the Society for Existential and Phenomenological Theory and Culture, Halifax, Nova Scotia, May, 2003
“‘Can You Hear Me Now?,’“ presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Media, Helsinki, Finland, May, 2003
“‘Community of Communication’ vs. ‘Global Village’“ presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Media, Puebla, Mexico, February, 2002.
“Politics and the Possibility of War: Merleau-Ponty and Baudrillard,” presented to the International Merleau-Ponty Circle, Asheville, NC, September 2001
“‘This Mute and Permanent Question Which Constitutes Normal Sexuality’: Merleau-Ponty, ‘Sexed Being’ and Normativity,” presented to the American Philosophical Association (Pacific Division), San Francisco, March, 2001
“Inauthenticity and Media Experience,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Media, San Diego, February 2001
“The Ideology of the Information Gap,” presented to the Radical Philosophy Association, Chicago, November, 2000
“Spatial and Geographic Metaphors and New Media,” presented to the International Association for Philosophy and Literature, SUNY Stony Brook, May, 2000
“Virtual Information: A Phenomenology of Ambivalence,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Media, San Diego, February 2000
“The Truth about the Media,” presented to the Popular Culture Association, San Diego, March, 1999
“Watching Television,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Media, San Diego, February, 1999
“What is TV?” presented to the Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World, Estes Park, Colorado, August, 1998
“From Reflection to Hyper-Reflection: Merleau-Ponty’s Final Cartesian Meditations,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy, University of Kentucky, October, 1997
“Hegelianism in Merleau-Ponty’s Philosophy of History,” presented to the International Merleau-Ponty Circle, University of Memphis, September, 1996
“Can Philosophy Be Popular?” presented to the Philosophy, Interpretation and Culture Conference, Binghamton University, April, 1996
“The Animal of Words,” presented to the Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy, De Paul University, October 1995
“Intersubjectivity and the Internet,” presented to the Second World Phenomenology Congress, Guadalajara, Mexico, September, 1995
“Intersubjective Community and the Constituted World,” presented to the Philosophy, Interpretation and Culture Conference, Binghamton University, April, 1995
“Access and Recess in the Structure of Intersubjectivity,” presented to the Back to the Things Themselves Conference, University of New Hampshire, March, 1995
“Merleau-Ponty on Ambiguity and Political Commitment,” presented to the International Merleau-Ponty Circle, Berry College, September, 1994
“Sexualities,” presented to the Philosophy, Interpretation and Culture Conference, Binghamton University, April, 1994
Professional Experience and Activities:
Reviewer, Existential and Phenomenological Theory and Culture Conference, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 Meetings
Commentator, Existential and Phenomenological Theory and Culture Conference 2009 & 2012 Meetings
Vice President, Society for Phenomenology and Media, 2009-2010
President, Society for Phenomenology and Media, 2003-2006
Editor, Glimpse: Publication of the Society for Phenomenology and Media, 2001-2003
Reviewer, Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World, 2002 & 2009 Conferences
Juror, Electronic Communication and Culture Section, Popular Culture Association, 2001 and 2008 Meetings
Secretary (2000-2003) and founding Board member, Society for Phenomenology and Media
Assistant Director, 20th Annual Meeting of the International Merleau-Ponty Circle, Duquesne University, September, 1995
Department and University Service
At CSU Stanislaus:
Lecturer Representative on Academic Senate, 2004-present
Philosophy Department Representative on Academic Senate, 2000-2004, 2010-2013
Curriculum Committee, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2012-2013
WASC Re-accreditation Inquiry Circle member, 2006-2010
Support Unit Review Committee member, 2008
Ad hoc Committee on Constitutional Amendments member, 2006-2007
Institutional Review Board, 2001-2007
California Faculty Association Lecturer Representative, 2002-present
General Education Summit Cluster faculty member, 2002-present
Campus Community Building Committee, 2003-2006
CSU Academic Planning Technology Conference team member, April, 2002
Honors Steering Committee, 2001-present
Cognitive Studies Steering Committee, 2001-02
New Faculty Survival Guide Committee 2000-01
Philosophy Department Web Page Designer 2000-2002
Philosophy Department Library Representative, Fall 1998-2002
At Duquesne University:
Graduate Student Representative to Philosophy Department Faculty, 1994
Organizer, Graduate Philosophy Colloquium, 1991-1993
For California Faculty Association:
Stanislaus chapter lecturer representative, 2002-present
Stanislaus chapter faculty rights representative, 2011-present
Member of Contract Development and Bargaining Strategies Committee, 2010-present
Member of Lecturers Council Subcommittee on Evaluation, 2007-present
Co-Chair of Lecturers Council Subcommittee on Job Security, 2008-present
Co-Chair of Lecturers Council Subcommittee on Governance, 2007-present
Academic Awards and Honors:
California State University, Stanislaus, College of Arts and Sciences Special Initiatives Fund Grants, 1999-2009, 2011
Duquesne University, Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student, 1996
Duquesne University, Graduate Teaching Assistantship, 1990-1993
Duquesne University, Tuition Scholarship, 1990-1993
University of North Carolina Charlotte, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, 1990Membership in Professional Societies:
Society for Existential and Phenomenological Theory and Culture
Society for Phenomenology and the Human Sciences
Society for Phenomenology and Media
Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World
International Merleau-Ponty Circle
American Association of University Professors