Brant Entrekin
Brant Entrekin
Ph.D. Philosophy Student, GTA
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 epistemology, feminist philosophy, philosophy of religion, and social philosophy. I particularly enjoy projects that work at the intersections of these fields. I also have interests in free will, metaphilosophy, American pragmatism (esp. William James) and sexual ethics.
I am also employed at the Thornton Athletic Center as an academic mentor. There, I work with first-semester student-athletes to aid in their transition from high school to college by helping them develop the academic skills they need to flourish as a student while balancing their responsibilities as an athlete. I see my work at the Thornton Center as a continuation of my work in other areas of student success, including time as a peer tutor and supplemental instruction leader at the University of West Georgia.
Outside the classroom, I enjoy endurance sports (especially distance running), weightlifting, reading, collecting vinyl records, watching baseball (go Braves!), and being thoroughly disappointed by the Atlanta Falcons on Sundays.
Education
B.A., Philosophy, University of West Georgia, summa cum laude
Capstone: “Epicureanism about Alzheimer’s: The Constitution View, Existence Requirements, and Hope”
Research
Primary: Epistemology (formal/applied), Philosophy of Religion, Feminist Philosophy
Secondary: American Pragmatism (esp. Peirce and James), Free Will, Inquiry
Presentations
“Because God Said So: Divine Revelation and Externalism about Knowledge.” University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Graduate Philosophy Conference. Spring 2024. [Accepted].
“My Porn Preferences are not Genetic: A Critique of Pornography Research in Sexual Strategies Theory.” Boston University’s Values in Research and Researching Values Conference. Spring 2024.
“Transformative (VR) Experiences: The Epistemic and Moral Potential of Gaming in Virtual Reality.” Florida Atlantic University, 2nd Annual Philosophy of Video Games Conference. Spring 2024. [Accepted]
“A Valuable Incompatibilism: Rethinking the Rollback Argument”- Florida State University’s Free Will, Moral Responsibility, and Agency Conference. Fall 2023
“Righteous Indignation and Radical Love: An Analysis of Anger in Social Justice” -The Ohio State MAP conference, Spring 2023
“Beyond Harm Reduction: A Hermeneutic Account of Consent”- Great Lakes Philosophy Conference, Spring 2022
“A Critique of William James’ Account of Mystical Experiences”-National Conference on Undergraduate Research (Spring 2021); Georgia Undergraduate Research Collective (Fall 2020)
“Autonomy and Risk: A Defense of the Nozick Principles”-National Conference on Undergraduate Research (Spring 2021); Georgia Undergraduate Research Collective (Fall 2020)
Teaching
Primary instructor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Introduction to Philosophy, Summer 2024
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Contemporary Moral Problems, Feldt, Fall 2023
Introduction to Philosophy, von Mizner, Spring 2022
Introduction to Philosophy, Gehrman, Fall 2022
GSSE Instructor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
STEM in Society, Summer 2023
Teacher, Carrollton City Schools, Carrollton, GA
Georgia History (8th grade)
Honors World History (9th grade)
Community
East Tennessee High School Ethics Bowl, Judge, Spring 2024
Graduate Student Senate Representative, Fall 2023-Spring 2024
Graduate Student Senate Travel Awards Committee, Fall 2023-Spring 2024
UTK PGSA, Conference Committee member, Fall 2023-Spring 2024
UTK Thornton Athletics Center, eVOLve Academic Mentor, Fall 2023-Current.
UTK Philosophy Club, invited speaker, Fall 2022
West Georgia Philosophical Society, Vice President, Fall 2020-Fall 2021
West Georgia High School Ethics Bowl, Judge, Spring 2022
Central High School Ethics Bowl, Philosophy Consultant, Fall 2020-Fall 2022
Presidential Student Advisory Council on Diversity, Representative, Spring 2019