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Simon Keller

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Simon Keller
Born1973
Academic background
Alma materPrinceton University
ThesisOn Welfare (2002)
Academic work
DisciplinePhilosopher
InstitutionsBoston University
University of Melbourne
Victoria University of Wellington
Main interestsEthics and the philosophy of mental health

Simon Tait Keller (born 1973)[1] is a philosophy academic, and a full professor at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.[2] As at 2023, he is head of the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations.[3] His work focusses on political philosophy, ethics and the philosophy of mental health. He has published works on topics including family relationships, friendships, the moral and political dimensions of relationships, patriotism and the possibility of time travel.[3]

In 2023, Keller was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.[4]

Career

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Keller completed under-graduate studies at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, gaining a B.A. and B.Sc.[5]

He subsequently studied at Princeton University and received a PhD in Philosophy in 2002.[6] Keller held teaching positions at Boston University and the University of Melbourne, and was a visiting professor at Rice University. In 2009, he was appointed as associate professor of philosophy at Victoria University of Wellington, and became a full professor in 2014.[2] As at 2023, he is head of the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations.[3]

Keller has appeared on the New Zealand national radio network RNZ on multiple occasions, covering topics including: the philosophy of vegetarianism,[7] the ethical issues raised by the publication of the book Dirty Politics by Nicky Hager,[8] political rebellion and revolution[9] and the philosophy of mental health.[10]

In 2015, Keller presented a talk on Patriotism in peace and war, as part of a series on conflict jointly organised by Victoria University of Wellington and the National Library of New Zealand.[11]

In 2017, Keller wrote an opinion piece The dangerous ideal of mental health for a national news service. He argued that the modern concept of a healthy mind as a positive construction, and something to strive towards, should be treated with suspicion because of the lack of clarity about what good mental health looks like.[12] Reactions included disagreement from the New Zealand Mental Health Foundation, who argued that mental health should not be seen only as a negative concept, and that treating it that way leads to stigma and barriers.[13]

Keller was a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Studies at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich from November 2017 to January 2018 and again in October 2019.[6]

In 2022, Keller presented a talk at one of the new fellows seminars given by Royal Society Te Apārangi, entitled Mental health as an ethical concept.[14]

Selected works

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  • Keller, Simon (2009). The Limits of Loyalty. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-51148759-0.
  • Keller, Simon (2013). Partiality. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-69115473-2.
  • Kleinig, John; Keller, Simon; Primoratz, Igor (2015). The Ethics of Patriotism: A Debate. Wiley Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-470-65885-7.
  • Keller, Simon (2018). "Fiduciary Duties and Moral Blackmail". Journal of Applied Philosophy. 35 (3).[15]
  • Keller, Simon (2022). "Mental Health in Old Age". In C.S. Wareham (ed.), The Cambridge Handbook of the Ethics of Ageing (pp. 79–91). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-10881704-2.

Honours and awards

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In 2009, Keller's book The Limits of Loyalty was the winner of the American Philosophical Association Book Prize.[16]

In 2018, his paper Fiduciary Duties and Moral Blackmail won the Journal of Applied Philosophy Essay Prize.[17]

In 2023, Keller was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.[3][4]

Personal life

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Keller is an athlete, and competes in distance running events. He competes as an individual in regional and national events, and in team events for the club Wellington Scottish Athletics.[18][19] He is also a regular author of items about running published on the club website.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Original works by Simon Keller". The British National Bibliography. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Professor Simon Keller". Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Researchers and scholars at the top of their fields elected as Ngā Ahurei Fellows". Royal Society Te Apārangi. 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b Weinberg, Justin (17 March 2023). "Keller Elected to Royal Society Te Apārangi (New Zealand)". Daily Nous. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Simon Keller". Harvard University - Edmond & Lliy Safra Center for Ethics. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Prof. Simon Keller, Ph.D." Center for Advanced Studies LMU Munich. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Ethical Vegetarianism". RNZ. 15 August 2010. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Dirty Politics: an ethical minefield". RNZ. 17 August 2014. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Great Ideas - Part 1: 'Rebellion and Revolution'". RNZ. 22 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Philosopher questions modern definition of mental health". RNZ. 7 July 2018. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  11. ^ Keller, Simon (6 July 2015). "Patriotism in peace and war". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  12. ^ Keller, Simon (19 January 2017). "The dangerous ideal of mental health". Stuff. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  13. ^ Mental Health Foundation (3 February 2017). "Positive mental health is not a 'dangerous' ideal". Stuff. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  14. ^ Keller, Simon. "Mental health as an ethical concept". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  15. ^ Keller, Simon (2018). "Fiduciary Duties and Moral Blackmail". Journal of Applied Philosophy. 35 (3). doi:10.1111/japp.12234.
  16. ^ "Book Prize". The American Philosophical Association. Archived from the original on 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  17. ^ Weinberg, Justin (1 May 2019). "Keller Wins Journal of Applied Philosophy Prize". Daily Nous. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  18. ^ Hyslop, Liam (2 October 2015). "Wellington Scottish men chase New Zealand Road Relay glory". Stuff. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  19. ^ Adamson, Alan (29 July 2021). "Athletes impress selectors with record-setting performances". Stuff. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Simon Keller". Wellington Scottish Athletics Club. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
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