Alumni network

Further education Juris Doctorate at Columbia Law - Class of 2027

Favorite courses at Berkeley Ethical theories, Theory of Knowledge, Modern Philosophy, Symbolic Logic, and Philosophy of Mind

Favorite professors Prof. Wesley Holliday (Theory of Knowledge) and Prof. Timothy Clarke (Aristotle) take center stage as my personal favorites. With Holliday, abstract concepts become as clear as a sunny day, while Clarke's teaching style feels like a philosophical fireside chat. Their dedication to sparking critical thinking and curiosity is not just admirable—it's downright contagious. They're the dynamic duo that keeps me coming back for more mind-bending discussions and aha moments.

How has your philosophical training influenced your life and career? My philosophical training has been instrumental in shaping my career and life. Philosophy taught me to approach complex problems with analytical rigor and clarity of thought, skills essential in military decision-making and contracting negotiations. In the military, philosophical training helped me navigate ethical dilemmas and moral gray areas inherent in operational planning and leadership. Beyond my professional endeavors, philosophy has enriched my personal life by fostering intellectual curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world around me. It has equipped me with the tools to engage in meaningful discourse, challenge assumptions, and cultivate empathy—an essential trait for effective leadership and legal practice.

Email apastor2@berkeley.edu

Further education Master of Divinity, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Current MPhil in Theology (Christian Ethics) student at the University of Oxford.

Favorite courses at Berkeley Philosophy of Religion, Ancient Philosophy, Ethical Theories, Medieval Philosophy, Heidegger.

Favorite professors Lara Buchak, Tim Crockett, Kristin Primus.

How has your philosophical training influenced your life and career? The philosophical questions, traditions, and training I encountered at Berkeley (along with a certain "philosophical spirit") helped to lead me to my current vocation in academic theology. Theologian David Bentley Hart, in his description of theology as a "pitilessly demanding discipline," mentioned that one of the qualifications of a "properly trained Christian theologian" should be a "thorough philosophical training." In this way my philosophical education very directly prepared me for my career in theology.

Any current engagement with philosophy? Since the boundaries between theology and philosophy are rather porous and contested, I often work through undeniably philosophical texts (e.g. Aristotle, Wittgenstein, Kant) in the course of my studies.

Email nathanielhodson@gmail.com

Favorite courses at Berkeley Ethics, Philosophy of Mind, Descartes, Nietzsche

Favorite professors Sluga, Kolodny, Searle

Email aaron.wasserman@berkeley.edu