James O. Young

James O. Young is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Victoria, where he has been a faculty member since 1985. His academic career spans over three decades with significant contributions to multiple philosophical disciplines, particularly focusing on the intersection of music, art, and ethics.

• BA from Simon Fraser University
• MA from University of Waterloo
• PhD from Boston University

Dr. Young's research centers on philosophy of language, metaphysics, ethics, and philosophy of art, with philosophy of music as his primary specialization. He investigates art as a source of knowledge, ontological and moral questions in artistic practice, and emerging interests in the history of aesthetics, eighteenth-century philosophy, and women philosophers. His current projects include an edited collection on Anne Dacier and foundational work on the nature of the aesthetic experience.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a sustained focus on historical and ethical dimensions of music philosophy, including critical examinations of the ethos theory, musical antiformalism, and cultural appropriation debates. His work consistently bridges historical analysis with contemporary philosophical issues, demonstrating deep engagement with both classical texts and modern theoretical challenges.

Scientific Awards

• Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2015)
• David H. Turpin Gold Medal for Career Achievement in Research (2022)

Dr. Young has authored nine major scholarly books including Critique of Pure Music (2014) and A History of Western Philosophy of Music (2023), translated seminal historical texts like Batteux's The Fine Arts Reduced to a Single Principle, and published over eighty peer-reviewed articles. As an active participant in the musical community, he serves as Artistic Director Emeritus of the Early Music Society of the Islands, where his practical musicianship as a harpsichordist and fortepianist directly informs his philosophical work.