Peg O'ConnorFaculty

I fell hard for Wittgenstein as an undergraduate philosophy major. I was simultaneously perplexed, charmed, befuddled, dubious, challenged, and so importantly, engaged by Wittgenstein's writings. Who could resist someone who wrote "What is your aim in philosophy? To shew the fly the way out of the fly-bottle." Years later (how many I will not say), his philosophy still guides my philosophical pursuits. Wittgenstein is my intellectual companion in all my work.

My interest in Wittgenstein is happily and productively combined with ethical matters. I have published two books on Wittgenstein and ethics. The first is Oppression and Responsibility (2002) and the second is Morality and Our Complicated Form of Life (2008). I am also the co-editor of Feminist Interpretations of Ludwig Wittgenstein (2002).

I regularly teach PHI 147: Applied Ethics, a course in which we explore the moral depth of many of our common ordinary practices and activities. I enjoy teaching this course so much because we focus on acquiring skills that enable us to engage in moral inquiry and transform moral disagreements in productive, useful, and respectful ways.

My recent work brings philosophical insights to issues of addiction, recovery, and trauma. I have two recent books, Higher and Friendly Powers: Transforming Addiction and Suffering (2022) and The Sober Philosopher Workbook for Exploring Addiction and Creating Recovery (2023), with Wildhouse Publications. My other book on addiction and recovery is Life on the Rocks: Finding Meaning in Addiction and Recovery (2016). I am presently working on two projects with the working titles, "Hindering the Essential Arts of Personhood: The Moral Crisis of Childhood Trauma" and "Recovering Charater: Knowing How to Belong to Yourself."  I also have  blog with Psychology Today titled, "Philosophy Stirred, Not Shaken."   The address is: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/philosophy-stirred-not-shaken

You can find me on Instagram and TikTok as #thesoberphilosopher

My website is https://pegoconnorauthor.com/

• Abbreviated O'Connor cv July 2023.docx

Courses Taught