Department ofPhilosophy

Erin McKenna is a Professor of Philosophy, former Chair of Philosophy, former Chair of Women's Studies, and former Chair of the Faculty.

She specializes in feminist theory and American Pragmatism, focusing on issues of social and political philosophy. Her book, The Task of Utopia: A Pragmatist and Feminist Perspective(Rowman and Littlefield, 2001) focuses on the work of John Dewey. She co-edited a volume titled Animal Pragmatism which came out in the spring of 2004 from Indiana University Press. Some of her articles include "Pragmatism and Primates," “Women, Power, and Meat,” “Feminism and Vegetarianism,” “ The Occupied West Bank,” and “Some Reflections Concerning Feminist Pedagogy.” She has chapters in The Philosophy of the X Files (University Press of Kentucky, 2009) and Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy (Open Court, 2008). Erin McKenna also co-edited Jimmy Buffett and Philosophy for Open Court in 2009.

She regularly teaches courses on Women and Philosophy every fall; Philosophy, Animals, and the Environment, most springs; Ethics and the Good Life; Social and Political Philosophy; and Pragmatism and American Philosophy.

McKenna has been teaching at PLU since 1992. She joins us with her PhD from Purdue University in Indiana.