AREAS OF SPECIALTY
Normative Ethics, Metaethics, Philosophy of Love
AREAS OF COMPETENCE
African Philosophy, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Applied Ethics, Introductory Logic & Critical Thinking, Social & Political Philosophy
DISSERTATION TITLE
On the Value of Relationships
Abstract:
My dissertation provides an account of the nature, value, and reasons arising out of close personal relationships. I provide an analysis of the attitude of close personal love, which I construe as a response to the beloved’s system of values as expressed through the beloved’s character. My account emphasizes certain ways in which human beings are imperfect, and suggests that we love people in part for these imperfections. Relationships grounded in this love have value for their participants because they facilitate self-understanding and enhance individual agency. Because of their distinctive value, relationships give rise to particular classes of reasons for their participants—reasons to favor loved ones, increase the potential range of shared experiences, and take good care of oneself. It is my view that certain relationship-specific goods are basic in a way that gives rise to reasons for us all to not only respect existing relationships but also to take steps towards becoming better potential participants in relationships. Finally, I consider the implications of my work for the larger conversation in ethics concerning the potential for conflict between reasons of partiality and those of impartiality. As part of this inquiry, I examine an African ethical theory that construes morality as arising out of human relationships. I conclude that relationships have a genuine, deep practical importance that is perhaps more in harmony with morality than may be obvious, but that this practical importance is nevertheless limited for deep, structural reasons.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE:
Advisor: L. Nandi Theunissen
Second Reader: Richard Bett
Committee Members: Hilary Bok, William Egginton, Leonardo Lisi
EDUCATION
2017 PhD, Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University
2011 MA, Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University
2008 MA, Philosophy, University of the Witwatersrand
2007 BA (Hons), Philosophy, University of the Witwatersrand
2006 BA, Philosophy and Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2018-20 Postdoctoral Fellow, Expository Writing Program, Johns Hopkins University
PUBLICATIONS
In Progress
On the Value of Relationships (book manuscript).
“What Does She See in Him? Seeing, Loving and Valuing” (article).
“Virtue Ethics and the Right to be Forgotten: Considerations of character in questions about data and privacy” (article).
Chapters for Edited Volumes
2019 Sandy Koullas, “Love, Practical Reason, and African Philosophy,” in The Routledge Handbook of Love in Philosophy. Ed. Adrienne Martin. New York: Routledge. 313-324.
2012 Sandy Koll, “Virtuous Anger and Inappropriate Apology: When Actions are Unforgivable,” in Forgiveness: Philosophy, Psychology and the Arts. Eds. T. McKenry and C. B. Thingholm. Oxford, UK: Interdisciplinary Press. 11-18.
Journal Articles
2009 Sandy Koll, “Is Bureaucracy Compatible with Democracy?” Southern African Journal of Philosophy 28(2): 134-145.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2016 (Offered) Dean’s Prize Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University
2015 (Offered) Dean’s Prize Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University
2015 David Sachs Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University
2015 Outstanding Shift Director Award, Johns Hopkins University Writing Center
2014 Dean’s Teaching Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University
2009 Owen Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University
2008 MA degree awarded with Distinction, University of the Witwatersrand
2007 Postgraduate Masters Merit Award, University of the Witwatersrand
2007 BA (Hons) degree awarded with Distinction, University of the Witwatersrand
2006 Postgraduate Honors Merit Award, University of the Witwatersrand
INVITED TALKS
2011 “Is there an Obligation to Forgive? Filling a Gap in Griswold’s Account,” University of the Witwatersrand, July 28
CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION
Papers Presented
2017 “Close Personal Relationships and Character Development,” American Philosophical Association, Central Division, March 1-4.
2016 “Close Personal Relationships and Character Development,” Northwest Philosophy Conference, October 14-15.
2012 “Virtuous Anger and Inappropriate Apology: When Actions are Unforgivable,” 5th Global Conference on Forgiveness, July 11-13.
2009 “Is Bureaucracy Compatible with Democracy?” Annual Conference of the Philosophical Society of Southern Africa (PSSA), January 19-21.
2008 “Causation by Absence,” Annual Conference of the Philosophical Society of Southern Africa (PSSA), January 21-23.
Commentary
2014 “The Wrongdoer’s Verdict: An Examination of the Dialectical Stalemate in the Free Will Debate,” Second Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Philosophy Conference, April 12
2013 “Qualities as Proper Grounds of Love,” American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division, December 28
Departmental Talks
2016 “Close Personal Relationships and Character Development,” Hammond Society Colloquium, October 7
2015 “The Opportunity for Reciprocal Beneficence, or the Gift for the Person Who Has Everything,” Hammond Society Colloquium, March 13
2014 “Loving Imperfections,” Prometheus Seminar Series, February 24
2013 “Interpersonal Relationships and Morality,” Prometheus Seminar Series, April 1
2012 “Forgiveness and the Unforgivable,” Prometheus Seminar Series, February 27
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Primary Instructor: Johns Hopkins University
1. Expository Writing: Exploring the Philosophy of Love, Expository Writing (Fall 2019; Spring 2020)
2. Expository Writing: What is Love? Expository Writing (Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2018, Spring 2019)
3. Expository Writing: Love and Morality, Expository Writing (Fall 2015, Spring 2016)
4. The Philosophy of Love, Philosophy (Intersession 2015)
5. African Philosophy, Philosophy (Fall 2014)
6. Prometheus Editorial Workshop, Philosophy (Spring 2013)
Primary Instructor: Georgetown University
1. Love, Relationships, & Ethics, Philosophy (Fall 2018)
Primary Instructor: University of the Witwatersrand
1. Philosophy 1, Wits Plus (Semester 1, 2009)
2. Knowledge and Reality, Philosophy (Part of Semester 1, 2009)
3. Business Ethics for Accountancy, Philosophy (Part of Semester 1, 2009)
4. Philosophy and Human Rights, International Human Rights Exchange Program (Semester 2, 2008)
Teaching Assistant: Johns Hopkins University
1. Formal Logic (Spring 2014, Spring 2012)
2. Introduction to Greek Philosophy (Fall 2013)
3. Introduction to Moral Philosophy (Spring 2013)
4. The Value of Humanity (Fall 2012)
5. Introduction to Bioethics (Fall 2011)
Teaching Assistant: University of the Witwatersrand
1. Critical Thinking and Philosophical Reasoning (Semester 1, 2009; Semester 1, 2008)
2. Introduction to Ethics (Semester 2, 2007; Semester 2, 2006)
3. Business Ethics for Accountancy (Semester 1, 2007)
4. Knowledge and Reality (Semester 1, 2006)
Other Teaching Experience
1. Writing Center Tutor, Johns Hopkins (Fall 2013-Fall 2016)
RELATED PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
2015 Preparing Future Faculty Teaching Academy Certificate, Johns Hopkins University
SERVICE
1. Prometheus – The Johns Hopkins Undergraduate Philosophy Journal: Graduate Advisor (Fall 2011-Spring 2014)
2. The Hammond Society: Graduate Student Colloquia Coordinator (Fall 2011 – Spring 2013)
3. The Hammond Society: Treasurer (Fall 2010-Spring 2011)
4. The Johns Hopkins Graduate Representative Organization: Philosophy Department Representative (Fall 2009-Spring 2010)
Available on request. Please email me at skoll1@jhu.edu