Charlotte Nakhla
- What do you like about studying philosophy at Harvard? Philosophy has allowed me to understand what Truth is, to ground my beliefs in it, and, as a consequence, to live well. Consider these two questions: how do I know what’s true, and what should I do about it? To make any decision in life—whether to pursue a career, learn a new skill, or even get married—you need some answer to both. Studying philosophy forces you to consider them seriously and to ask whether your own answers are justified.
You can apply these questions at the level of your entire life (and I recommend you do), but you can also bring them to any specific field that interests you. How do I know what’s true about government, chemistry, the economy, or love, and what should I do about it?
I love knowing that these questions are millennia old. I've taken many historical philosophy classes, and each one—from Stoicism to Early Modern Philosophy—has taught *why* great thinkers believed what they believed. I've gotten to reason alongside them, and I admit, a couple of them (Aristotle...) have won me over.
Finally, and arguably most importantly, answering these questions is not meant to be a solo endeavor, and our philosophy department understands this. I’ve had my most thorough and insightful conversations here—in class, in section, in office hours, or over coffee at the Robbins Library. The students and faculty in the philosophy department are the best people I’ve ever met, at Harvard and beyond. - House: Lowell
- Concentration: Philosophy, with a secondary in History
- Other Concentrations Considered: History of Science, Government, Statistics
- Philosophy Courses Taken: (Phil 8) Early Modern Philosophy, (Phil 111S - 1) Being a Stoic and Living Stoically, (Phil 125) Beyond Dualism: Descartes and His Critics, (GENED 1051) Reclaiming Argument: Logic as a Force for Good, (Phil
103M) Human Nature and the Meaning of Life in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy - Thesis: If I were to write a thesis, it would be on how the conception of the Good Life has changed over time and the societal consequences of said changes.
- Other Interests / Notes: Talk to me about logic, virtue, Christian theology, theology in general, history of science, and art!