Adina Covaci

Profile

In my thesis I investigate the phenomenon of moral deference and ask whether there is anything non-epistemically problematic about it. I argue that there is, by showing that it negatively interferes with an instrumentally and non-instrumentally valuable capacity, namely our capacity for practical deliberation. My project is supervised by Professor Pekka Väyrynen.

Research Interests

Moral Epistemology; Metaethics; Normative ethics; Epistemology

Talks 

External 

"Bad Deference", Moral Epistemology Summer School, CEU (July 2018)

"The Asymmetry of Deference", BPPA Annual Conference, University of Birmingham (July 2018) 

"Against Moral Deference: The Argument from Practical Deliberation", The Future of Normativity Conference, University of Kent (June 2018) 

"Against Moral Deference Again", 1st Social Epistemology Network Event, University of Oslo (May 2018)

"The Glass Is Half Empty: A Rejection of Moral Deference Optimism", 9th European Congress of Analytic Philosophy, LMU (Aug 2017)

"There's Something About Moral Deference", Society for Applied Philosophy Annual Conference, University of Copenhagen (July 2017)

"The Globalisation of Beauty as Unethical Propaganda", Beauty Demands Project: Globalisation of Beauty, University of Birmingham (Sept 2015)

Internal 

"The Asymmetry of Deference Revisited", Leeds Centre for Ethics and Metaethics (Nov 2018)

"Beyond Moral Deference: Practical Deliberation and the Asymmetry Thesis", Leeds PG Philosophy Seminar (Mar 2018) 

"Against Moral Deference", Leeds Centre for Ethics and Metaethics (Nov 2017) 

"Testimonial Knowledge", Leeds PG Philosophy Seminar (Nov 2017)

"Moral Deference Pessimism Again: The Argument from Practical Deliberation", Leeds PG Philosophy Seminar (June 2017)

"There's Something about Moral Deference", Leeds PG Philosophy Seminar (Oct 2016)

Academic History

MA - Central European University, Budapest, Hungary, 2013-2015 (Dissertation: Is Morality for the Chosen Few? The Problem of Moral Deference)

BA - University of the West, Timisoara, Romania, 2009-2012 (Dissertation: Beyond Anguish and Alienation: Jean-Paul Sartre's Ethics of Responsibility)

Teaching Training - West University of Timisoara (2009-2012) and “Aurel Vlaicu” University Arad (2012-2013), The Department of Teaching Training 

Certification 

Higher Education Academy Certification: Associate Fellowship (August 2018) 

SAPERE Level 1 Foundation Course in P4C (Philosophy for Children) Initial Practice Certificate (2017)

Teaching experience

I have tutored on the following modules: 

2018/2019

PHIL3321 - Metaethics

PHIL 1120 - Great Philosophical Thinkers

Campus to Clinic 1 (part of MEDI 1215) - Medical Ethics (Y1)

Campus to Clinic (part of MEDI 3217) - Ethics Project (Y3)

2017/2018

PHIL 1005 - The Mind

PHIL 2295 - Ethics of Life and Death 

PHIL 1007 - Introduction to Philosophy of Religion

PHIL 2422 - Topics in Epistemology: Knowledge and Justification 

2016/2017

PHIL 1120 - Great Philosophical Thinkers

PHIL 1080 - The Good, the Bad, the Right, the Wrong

Funding

I am very grateful to the University of Leeds for awarding me an 110th Anniversary Research Scholarship for the period 2015-2018 and to the Society for Applied Philosophy for awarding me a doctoral scholarship for the academic year 2018-2019.

Other roles

I am involved in the Students as Scholars/LEAP Mentoring Scheme at the University of Leeds (2016-present)

I am an events officer for the Leeds Minorities and Philosophy chapter (MAP@Leeds, 2016-present)

I co-organise and co-chair the Leeds Postgraduate Philosophy Seminar (with David Heering, 2018-present)  

I set up and organise the Work-in-Progress Postgraduate Group (2018-present)

Research groups and institutes

• Centre for Aesthetic, Moral and Political Philosophy
• Philosophy