About me
Hello! My name is Harry Alanen, and I am a philosopher.
My research interests focus on the explanation of behaviour, covering a wide range of topics and issues in the philosophy of action including metaphysics, philosophy of mind, ethics, and the history of philosophy.
I am currently a member of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Oxford, where I am employed as Stipendiary Lecturer in Philosophy at Merton College and a College Lecturer in Ancient Philosophy at Corpus Christi College where I teach philosophy to undergraduates. I am also a Visiting Researcher at the University of Helsinki, where I am a participant in Mika Perälä’s project “History and Diversity in Aristotelian Zoology”.
In 2023-24 I was a Visiting Fulbright Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh. I received my DPhil in Philosophy from Oxford in 2022. For more information, please see below for an overview of my educational background or see the relevant pages for more information about my research and teaching. If you have any questions, please, don’t hesitate to contact me.
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Education
In November 2022 I finished my DPhil in Philosophy at the University of Oxford (New College). My thesis – “Aristotle on Action and Agency” – was supervised by Ursula Coope, and examined by Stevie Makin and Michail Peramatzis. Prior to the DPhil I completed the MSt in Ancient Philosophy at Oxford, and before that a BA in Philosophy at University of Helsinki – my hometown.
During my time on the DPhil I have worked as a Stipendiary Lecturer in Ancient Philosophy at Christ Church College, teaching undergraduates topics ranging from Early Greek Philosophy to Philosophy of Mind. Throughout my time as a DPhil student I’ve also taught students a wide range of topics at various colleges.
In 2018 I spent a summer as a Visiting Doctoral Fellow at the University of Leipzig, while in 2017 I spent a term at Yale, working with David Charles.
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me, or consult my CV.