معرفی
Michael Vazquez is a Teaching Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also serves as Associate Director of the Parr Center for Ethics and Director of Outreach. His work bridges academic philosophy with public engagement, bringing philosophical reflection to diverse communities including K-12 schools, community colleges, libraries, prisons, museums, and retirement communities.
His educational background includes:
- PhD in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania (2020)
- Post-baccalaureate program in Classical Studies from the University of Pennsylvania (2015)
- BA in Philosophy and Humanities from Villanova University (2014)
- Visiting student in Philosophy at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford (2013)
Vazquez's research focuses on Ancient Greek & Roman philosophy, with particular attention to Cicero, Stoicism, and their connections to contemporary ethical theory. He advocates for publicly engaged philosophy and interdisciplinary collaboration, working with campus and community partners to promote philosophical and humanistic reflection across diverse settings. His work with TED-Ed produces accessible videos on real-world ethical dilemmas, while his research projects assess philosophy's impact on intellectual and moral virtues across the lifespan.
His publications reveal a strong interest in the intersection of ancient philosophy with contemporary ethical education, particularly through initiatives like Ethics Bowl. His recent work has examined how studying philosophy develops critical thinking skills, with analyses spanning over 600,000 college graduates.
Among his notable achievements is being awarded an Institutional Impact Grant of $789,618 from the Educating Character Initiative for the Educating for the Virtues of Attention (EVA) project, a three-year campus-wide initiative designed to help students develop intellectual and ethical habits of attention essential for learning, reflection, and civic life.
Vazquez is actively involved in mentoring and community engagement, designing experiential education courses where UNC undergraduates coach high school Ethics Bowl teams across the country. He developed the "Toolkit Approach" to ethical reasoning, providing students with conceptual resources to navigate ethical dilemmas rather than algorithmic solutions.
