James Garrison

James Garrison is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, affiliated with the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. His work focuses on intercultural philosophy, social and political issues, and aesthetics, with a specialization in East Asian and African diaspora sources. He leads the National Endowment for the Humanities-funded research project The Subject Project: Human Visibility, Vulnerability, and Diversity in the Data Age.

Education:

• Dr.Phil., Philosophy (2015), University of Vienna, Austria
• M.A., Philosophy (2007), University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
• B.A., Philosophy (2004), Whitman College

Research Interests: Intercultural philosophy, Asian philosophy, philosophy of race and gender, continental philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, and American pragmatism. His current research explores human visibility in the digital age, mourning and trauma in African diaspora contexts, and the intersection of art and ritual in critical theory.

Grants and Awards:

• 2024 Philosophy in Media Fellowship (Marc Sanders Foundation)
• NEH Grant for The Subject Project: Human Visibility, Vulnerability, and Diversity in the Data Age (2024)

Key Contributions: Authored Black Bodies That Matter (2024), co-edited Political Philosophy from an Intercultural Perspective (2021), and published widely in journals like Contemporary Pragmatism and China Review International. His work bridges East-West philosophical traditions and addresses contemporary social justice issues.