Author Archives: Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.

About Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers or They/Their/Theirs I am an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at University of Washington, Seattle, and I work on philosophy of law, social/political philosophy, and feminism. My current research project argues that the criminal justice system in the United States oppresses people through policing, courts and punishments, and collateral consequences of convictions and arrests. Because this system is an oppressive one, I argue that those engaged in anti-rape and anti-domestic violence activism should not avail themselves of the criminal justice system to achieve their goals. Looking for other ways of fighting rape and domestic violence will actually serve victims and their communities better. In addition to obtaining my Ph.D. from Boston College in 2020, I also graduated from Boston College Law School in 2017 as a part of a dual degree program in philosophy and law at Boston College. I was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in January 2018.

What I gained from law

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.

After 3 years in law school and a year in Albuquerque clerking for the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, I am back to Massachusetts and back to working on my dissertation. I went to law school … Continue reading →

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What is a Philosopher to Do?: Thoughts on the Realities of Human Rights, Conflict, and Justice

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.

I was invited to attend a small workshop called “Human Rights—In and After Conflict”,  sponsored by The Oxford Program on Ethics, Law, and Armed Conflict, Merton College, Oxford. The workshop took place late March, and months later, I am still … Continue reading →

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Amelia In Oxford

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.

From March 22-28, I participated in an intimate workshop on human rights in and after conflict at Merton College, Oxford. Participants included other philosophers, undergraduates from diverse studies, students in the graduate peace and conflict resolution program at University of … Continue reading →

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Jeremy Waldron: Rule of Law as Separation of Powers

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.

Jeremy Waldron, philosopher of law and political theorist of NYU and Oxford, visited BC September 24 and 25, and I had the pleasure of hearing him speak. I wrote the following short piece on his talk  for the Clough Center … Continue reading →

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A. J. Ayer: Language, Truth, and Logic

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.

Since I had a primarily continental undergrad education, I am just now starting to fill in a lot of the gaps in my knowledge of analytic thought. I am reading this book for a course called Discourse and Metaphysics of … Continue reading →

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Contemporary Philosophy Workshop: Public Reason, Pluralism, and the Moral Underpinnings of Liberalism

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.
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Habermas: The Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy by Hugh Baxter

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.

I was invited by Kevin Gray, philosophy professor at the American University of Sharjah, to participate in an Author-Meets-Critics panel for this book at the NASSP Conference in Boston July 26-28, 2012 at Northeastern University. Here is the program. This … Continue reading →

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Pluralism and Public Reason Workshop October 13, 2012

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.

“Pluralism, Public Reason, and the Moral Underpinnings of Liberalism,” this year’s Contemporary Philosophy Workshop at Boston College will be October 13th. Confirmed presenters are Susan Shell (Political Science, BC), Chris Zurn (Philosophy UMass Boston), and David Rasmussen (Philosophy, BC). There … Continue reading →

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Currently Reading: Pogge

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.

I am taking a quick break from the Audi to reread some of Thomas Pogge’s key arguments in World Poverty and Human Rights. In this book he argues for global justice on the basis of the fact that the first … Continue reading →

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Currently Reading: Audi

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Amelia M. Wirts, Esq.

Right now I am reading Robert Audi’s Democratic Authority and the Separation of Church and State. Audi will be presenting at Boston College’s Annual Contemporary Philosophy Workshop that I, along with my colleague Paul Van Rooy, am planning, so I … Continue reading →

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