Joseph Brownsberger
Philosophy · Law · Notre Dame
PhD student in Philosophy and JD candidate, working at the intersection of action theory, practical reason, and legal scholarship.
About
Joseph Brownsberger is a PhD student in the Department of Philosophy and a JD student at Notre Dame Law School, pursuing both degrees concurrently. He received a B.S. in Physics and Philosophy from Yale University, where his philosophy thesis examined hylomorphism in intentional action.
His research centers on the philosophy of action, with particular attention to contemporary accounts of action, practical reasoning, and practical knowledge that follow in the Aristotelian tradition, as well as Elizabeth Anscombe’s work in ethics and action theory. On the legal side, his interests include property, contracts, and the philosophical foundations of legal reasoning.
Off campus, he enjoys woodworking, agriculture, and home improvements.
Research & Focus Areas
Philosophy of Action
Contemporary accounts of action, practical reasoning, and practical knowledge in the Aristotelian tradition.
Anscombe & Ethics
Elizabeth Anscombe’s work in ethics and action theory, and its bearing on questions of intention and agency.
Legal Theory
Property, contracts, and the philosophical foundations of legal reasoning and adjudication.
Medieval & Aristotelian Philosophy
Hylomorphism, natural philosophy, and Thomistic accounts of action and causation.
Contact
Department of Philosophy & Notre Dame Law School
University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN