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, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Philosophy), 2028 (expected)
Dissertation: “The Politics of Privilege: Allyship in Social Justice Movements”
Committee: Avery Kolers (co-chair); Judith Carlisle (co-chair); Kristina Gehrman; Philip Yaure (Virginia Tech)
Graduate Certificate, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies), 2028 (expected)
Advisor: Nora Berenstain
MA en passant, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Philosophy), 2025
Capstone: “Messy Methodologies and Epistemic Echo Chambers in Evolutionary Psychology”
Committee: Nora Berenstain (chair); Judith Carlisle; Jonathan Garthoff
Graduate Certificate, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Religious Studies), 2025
Advisor: Megan Bryson
Teaching Certificate (Associate Level), UT Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, & Learning, 2025
BA, University of West Georgia, (Philosophy), 2021 (summa cum laude)
Capstone: “Epicureanism about Alzheimer’s”
Advisor: Robert Lane
Research
Areas of Specialization: Social/Political Philosophy (esp. epistemology); Philosophy of Social Justice; Feminist Philosophy
Areas of Competence: Applied Ethics; Religious Studies (esp. American Evangelical Christianity)
Publications
Book Chapters
“Activist Music and Aesthetic Hijacking.” In Classic Rock and Philosophy: Dispatches from the Dark Side of the Moon, ed. Joshua Heter and Richard Greene. Wallace & Jacobs Press. (forthcoming)
Research Articles
“A.I.-Mediated Mystical Experiences,” Religious Studies (forthcoming)
“Hermeneutical Priming and Linguistic Hijacking in the God’s Not Dead series,” Journal of Religion and Film vol. 29, no. 2 (2025).
“A Hermeneutical Response to Apologists and Atheists,” Aporia vol. 31, no. 2 (2021).
Book Reviews
Munther Dahleh, “Data, Systems, and Society: Harnessing AI for Societal Good,” Journal of Ethics and Emerging Technologies (forthcoming)
David Gooblar, “One Classroom at a Time: How Better Teaching Can Make College More Equitable,” Teaching Philosophy 48 (4):642-646 (2025).
Presentations
Invited Research Talks
“The Structure(s) of Social Roles.” 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 Research 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
Commentary
Fuehrer, Nathan. “Angelic Devil’s Advocacy: Reengineering Debate Incentives to Cultivate Open-Mindedness Under Polarization.” Arguing for Sport Online Workshop (University of Lethbridge), Spring 2026
Hamilton, Ely. “Standing to Demand.” Tennessee Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, Fall 2025
Pedagogy Presentations
Panel participant, “Non-Traditional Assessments in the Classroom.” UTK Philosophy Pedagogy Workshop Series, Spring 2026.
Teaching
- Instructor of Record, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Professional Responsibility (x3)
- Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Professional Responsibility (w/ Judith Carlisle; x2)
- Contemporary Moral Problems (w/ Alex Feldt; x2)
- Introduction to Philosophy (w/ Sam von Mizner)
- Introduction to Philosophy (w/Kristina Gehrman)
- Adjunct Instructor, Pellissippi State Community College (Knoxville, TN)
- Introduction to Ethics
- Introduction to World Religions
- Introduction to Philosophy (x2)
- Teaching Assistant, Governor’s School at University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- STEM in Society (w/ Kristina Gehrman; x2)
- K-12 Substitute Teacher, Carrollton City Schools (Carrollton, GA)
- Long term substitute for 8th grade Georgia history and honors 9th grade world history
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)