Research
Levi Tenen
I am Assistant Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Liberal Studies at Kettering University. I received my PhD in 2020 from Indiana University, Bloomington under Marcia Baron. My primary research lies at the intersection of ethics (esp. value theory), environmental philosophy, and aesthetics. I also have interests in social and political philosophy and the philosophy of technology.
In value theory, I am providing an account of how two fundamental forms of valuing differ from each other: valuing x for its own sake and valuing x for the sake of other things. I then build on this to refine a methodology used to explore the value of a wide range of entities, including heirlooms, artworks, heritage sites, natural entities, and non-human animals, as well as things such as the character traits constitutive of a good life.
In environmental philosophy, I am arguing that Congress should reconsider what all is required to preserve wilderness in the 21st Century given that new communications technologies threaten "outstanding opportunities for solitude" protected under The Wilderness Act (an op-ed I wrote can be found here). In another project, I offer a philosophical analysis and critique of The 1906 Antiquities Act, suggesting a change to how managing agencies protect national monuments and a change to how the public views national monuments in relation to other land designations.