Jordan Chan

What do you like about studying philosophy at Harvard? The thing I love most about the philosophy concentration is that it is defined by people who push back against relentless messaging that struggle is undesirable. Reinserting friction into your daily life, searching for answers that are not easy but true, and being vulnerable about the beliefs and actions that make you who you are can be frustrating but also unbelievably rewarding. Plus, a wonderful characteristic of these behaviors is that they are accessible, so long as you are inquisitive and willing to learn.

The philosophy department at Harvard also houses a support system that is second to none. It has been a privilege to connect with extraordinary people who are invested in me not only as a philosopher but also as an individual. The community’s attentiveness, care, and compassion has shaped me into who I am today, and I’m extremely grateful. I hope to share that experience with many others. 

House: Eliot House

Concentration: Double Concentration in Philosophy and Economics

Other Concentrations Considered: Sociology, WGS

Philosophy Courses Taken: FYSEMR 65F The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful: The Ethics of Art; Phil 16 Sex, Love, and Friendship; PHIL 133 The Art of Living: 19th Century Philosophy; PHIL 14 Morality and the Good Life: An Introduction to Ethics; Phil 137 Later Wittgenstein; Phil 97 Philosophy Through Dialogue; Phil 98 Feminist Ethics and Epistemology; PHIL 171L Love; Study Abroad Course at the University of Edinburgh Philosophy of Language Models and Virtual Worlds; GENED 1025 Happiness; PHIL 4 Logic I; Phil 99; PHIL 166AI Artificial Agency and Society

Thesis: My thesis is on how relationships with generative AI chatbots may affect our relationships with other human beings and the ethical implications of these effects. 

Other Interests / Notes: Education, art/aesthetics, feminist ethics, gender and sexuality, love and relationships