Background
I hold an MA-degree in Philosophy from the University of Oslo (UiO) (1988) and a PhD in Philosophy from Princeton University (1996). I became Associate Professor in Philosophy at UiO in 1997, and Full Professor in 2007.
Areas of Specialization and Interest
My area of specialization is Ancient Philosophy, in particular Plato and Aristotle. Thematically I have worked mostly in Ethics, but also with methodological and metaphysical problems. I also have a strong general interest in the History of Philosophy, and I have particularly worked on Kant and Wittgenstein. I believe it is very fruitful to do philosophy at the intersection between 'the historical' and 'the systematic', and I am skeptical of any clear-cut distinciton between the two.
Projects
In my doctoral dissertation I addressed the methodological aspects of the philosophy of Socrates as he is depicted in Plato's 'earlier' dialogues: definition and the elenchus. Lately I have become more interested in ethics and moral psychology in Plato and Aristotle, centred around the concpet of eudaimonia ('happiness'). Here, as well, I find it natural to relate the topic to modern debates.
In the period January 2011–June 2012 I am affiliated with CSMN.
Teaching
I teach and supervise on all levels in Philosophy. Courses I have taught include:
- EXPHIL03 - Examen philosophicum
- FIL1003 Etikk
- FIL1005 Innføring i filosofihistorie frem til 1800
- FIL2700 - Fordypning - Filosofihistorie frem til 1600
- FIL4560 - Filosofihistorie frem til 1600