Brant Entrekin
Brant Entrekin
Ph.D. Philosophy Student, Graduate Teaching Associate
I am originally from Carrollton, Georgia, and I moved to Knoxville in June 2022 after graduating with my B.A. in philosophy from the University of West Georgia. My main research interests are in social epistemology, feminist philosophy, and philosophy of social justice. I also have broad interests in many other areas, including philosophy of science, sexual ethics, philosophy of disability, and philosophy of religion. In addition to the PhD in philosophy, I am also pursuing graduate certificates from the religious studies department and the women, gender, and sexuality (WGS) program.
My research examines the relationship between privilege, oppression, and social-political life. In a world marked by pervasive injustice, I investigate how oppressive structures emerge and persist, and how we might build ethical, resilient social movements to dismantle them. I am also concerned with the virtues and dispositions necessary to foster cohesive political communities that enable both individual and collective flourishing.
My current projects address several interrelated questions:
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How should those with privilege conduct themselves in social justice activism given their positional advantages?
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What are the epistemic foundations of oppression, and how do oppressors employ epistemic manipulation to naturalize oppression and its language?
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What normative constraints govern social justice activism, and how do our particular roles within movements shape these constraints?
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How can we resist the naturalization of oppression and counter manipulative language that undermines good-faith political discourse?
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What civic virtues are essential for citizenship in a just, democratic society, and how can they be cultivated in ourselves and others?
In Fall 2024, I was hired as an international organizer for Minorities and Philosophy International (MAP). MAP is an excellent organization that works to remove systemic barriers that prevent access to and participation in academic philosophy for marginalized groups, and it is an honor to contribute to enhancing and expanding that mission.
Outside the classroom, I enjoy endurance sports (especially distance running), weightlifting, reading, collecting vinyl records, playing video games with friends, watching baseball (go Braves!), and being thoroughly disappointed by the Atlanta Falcons on Sundays.
Education
PhD in Philosophy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Expected finish: 2028)
- Dissertation: “The Politics of Privilege: Allyship in Social Justice Movements”
- Supervisor: Judith Carlisle (Co-Supervisor); Kristina Gehrman (Co-Supervisor)
- Committee: Philip Yaure
MA in Philosophy (en passant), University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Spring 2025)
- Capstone: “Messy Methodologies and Epistemic Echo Chambers in Evolutionary Psychology”
- Supervisor: Nora Berenstain
- Committee: Judith Carlisle
Graduate Certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Expected finish: 2028)
Graduate Certificate in Religious Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Spring 2025)
Teaching Certificate (Associate Level), Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CITRL) (Spring 2025)
BA in Philosophy (summa cum laude), University of West Georgia (Fall 2021)
- Capstone: “Epicureanism about Alzheimer’s: The Constitution View, Existence Requirements, and Hope”
- Supervisor: Robert Lane
Research
Areas of Specialization: Social/Political Philosophy (esp. epistemology); Philosophy of Social Justice; Feminist Philosophy
Areas of Competence: Applied Ethics; Philosophy of Science (esp. Feminist Philosophy of Science); Religious Studies (esp. American Evangelical Christianity)
Presentations
Invited Talks
“Hypocritical Activism.” UTK Philosophy Graduate Student Colloquium Series, Fall 2025
“Cis Duties to ‘Speak Up’ as a Trans Ally.” Duke Social Philosophy Conference (Graduate Flash Talk), Spring 2025
“The Value-Free Ideal (?) of Science.” UTK GSSE: STEM in Society, Summer 2024
“Beyond Harm Reduction: A Hermeneutic Account of Consent.” UTK Philosophy Club, Fall 2022
Refereed Presentations
“The Political Puzzle of Privilege.” Tennessee Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, Fall 2025
“Salvaging the Allyship.” Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Society 9th Annual Meeting (Solidarity and Oppression Panel), Fall 2025
“Skin Deep Science: Racial Assumptions in Obesity Research and Treatment.” Minorities and Philosophy Panel on Healthcare Injustice, Understanding Value XIII, Summer 2025
“Allies and Intellectual Virtue Signaling.” UConn Graduate Student Conference, Spring 2025
“Allies and Intellectual Virtue Signaling.” Boston University: Virtues and Vices in Social Contexts Conference, Spring 2025
“Allies and the Aesthetic Appreciation of Diversity.” Beacon College: Dimensions of Difference Symposium, Spring 2025
“Linguistic Hijacking and Hermeneutical Priming in the God’s Not Dead series.” Mississippi Philosophical Association, Spring 2025
“The Heart of Discovery: Emotions in Scientific Inquiry.” Tennessee Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, Fall 2024
“My Porn Preferences Are Not Genetic.” Boston University: Values in Research Conference, Spring 2024
“A Valuable Incompatibilism.” Florida State University Free Will Conference, Fall 2023
“Righteous Indignation and Radical Love: Emotions in Social Justice Movements.” Minorities and Philosophy Conference, The Ohio State University, Spring 2023
Teaching
Solo Instructor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Professional Responsibility, Summer 2025
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Professional Responsibility, Carlisle, Fall 2024-Spring 2025
Contemporary Moral Problems, Feldt, Fall 2023-Spring 2024
Introduction to Philosophy, von Mizner, Spring 2022
Introduction to Philosophy, Gehrman, Fall 2022
Teaching Assistant, Governor’s School for the Sciences and Engineering (UTK)
STEM in Society, Summer 2024
STEM in Society, Summer 2023
K-12 Teacher, Carrollton City Schools, Carrollton, GA
Georgia History (8th grade)
Honors World History (9th grade)
Community
Academic Leadership & Professional Service
Social Chair, Philosophy Graduate Student Association (FA25-SP26)
President, Philosophy Graduate Student Association (FA24-SP25)
Representative to Graduate Student Senate (FA23-SP24)
Member, Graduate Student Senate Travel Awards Committee (FA23-SP24)
International Organizer, Minorities and Philosophy, International (MAP) (FA24-SP26)
Member, University of West Georgia President’s Advisory Council on Diversity (2019)
Scholarly & Student Engagement
Organizer, Meaning in Life Reading Group (FA25)
Organizer, UTK Meaning in Life Conference (SP25)
Co-Organizer, UTK Emerging Technologies & Social Ethics Conference (SP24)
Reviewer, Medusa: An Undergraduate Feminist Philosophy Journal (2025)
Judge, ASUres Undergraduate Research Symposium (2025)
Public Philosophy & Educational Outreach
Co-Organizer, MAP Public-Facing Philosophy Conference (FA25)
Judge, East TN Ethics Bowl (2024; 2025)
Judge, West GA Ethics Bowl (2022)
Co-Coach, Central High School Ethics Bowl (Carrollton, GA) (2020-2022)