Jaime Edwards

Jaime Edwards

Political Philosophy Fellow, Lecturer in Law

Jaime Edwards is a Lecturer in Law. His main philosophical interests are: (1) social & political philosophy and (2) 19th & 20th Century European philosophy. He is especially interested in the intersection of these two areas.

Jaime’s research explores ideological belief—the complex ways in which our beliefs are shaped by social and political forces in a manner that reinforces existing power hierarchies while disadvantaging the vast majority. Most recently, he has been exploring the limitations ideology places on our understanding of political community and obligations, arguing that we should promote cosmopolitan solidarity rather than nationalistic loyalties, and examining what this might look like in practice.

Jaime’s first book, Marx, coauthored with Brian Leiter, is appearing Fall 2024.

Off campus, Jaime teaches essay writing in prisons and organizes citizenship classes for refugees preparing to take the US citizenship exam.

Jaime holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Chicago and a BA in Philosophy from UC Berkeley.

Education

University of Chicago

PhD Department of Philosophy (2018)
MA Department of Philosophy (2014)

University of Bonn

Department of Philosophy (Visiting Scholar, 2014-15)

UC Berkeley

BA (Highest Distinction, 2008)

Experience

University of Chicago Law School

Lecturer in Law, 2024-25

St. Norbert College

Assistant Professor of Philosophy, 2018-24
Co-Director of Peace and Justice Program, 2020-24

Art Institute of Chicago

Lecturer in the Liberal Arts Program, 2016-18

  • “Against Idealism and Idealization: Marx’s Ideological Critiques:” Invited Paper, Oberlin College, September 2024; Invited Paper, Houston Colloquium in German Philosophy, March 2024; Invited Paper, Philosophy Seminar Series, Marquette University, October 2021
  • “Marx on Good and Bad Work:” Invited Paper, International Workshop on Applied Ethics, Marquette University, May 2024
  • “Democratic Equality in the New Gilded Age: A Conversation:” UW-Milwaukee, April 2024
  • Marx Manuscript: Conference on Marx manuscript (J. Edwards and B. Leiter), University of Chicago, January 2024
  • “Cosmopolitan Solidarity: Reconciling Freedom and Collective Action:” Conference Paper, Philosophy, Politics and Economics Society Conference, New Orleans, November 2023; Invited Paper, International Workshop on Applied ethics, Universidad San Sebastian in Santiago, Chile, September 2023
  • “Assessing Marx’s Cosmopolitanism:” Conference Paper, Philosophy, Politics and Economics Society Conference, New Orleans, November 2023
  • “Hegel on the Common Good and the Inevitable Bad:” Conference Paper, Philosophy, Politics and Economics Society Conference, New Orleans, November 2022
  • “‘Everything is as it seems, and all is for the best!’: The Origin of Ideological Belief in Cognitive and Motivated Biases:” Invited Paper, McMaster University, December 2020; Invited Paper, Law and Philosophy Workshop, University of Chicago, February 2019; Invited Paper, “Strangers to Ourselves”: Themes from German Philosophy and Cognitive Science, University of Chicago, May 2017
  • “On the Ruling Class and Their Ruling Ideas:” Conference Paper, Philosophy, Politics and Economics Society Conference, New Orleans, March 2020; Workshop Presentation, the Practical Philosophy Workshop, University of Chicago, January 2018
  • “Products of Our Time: Bias, Ideology, Morality:” Invited Paper, Central APA, February 2020; Conference Paper, Western Michigan University Graduate Philosophy Conference, Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, December 2017; Conference Paper, Ethics and Political, Social and Legal Annual Conference, University of Michigan—Flint, November 2017; Conference Paper, Illinois Philosophical Association Conference, Northern Illinois University, October 2017
  • “Ideal Theory, Ideal Thinkers, and Ideology:” Invited Paper, presented at an author-meets-critics symposium on Jonny Thakkar, Plato as Critical Theorist, Philosophy, Politics and Economics Society Conference, New Orleans, March 2019
  • “Just Because They Say It, Doesn’t Make It So: On Group Consensus:” Conference Paper, Trust, Expert Opinion and Policy: A multidisciplinary conference investigating questions of trust in and the trustworthiness of expert opinion, University College, Dublin, August 2017

Awards and Fellowships

  • Norman Miller Center for Peace and Justice Studies Affiliate Faculty Program, St. Norbert College, 2020-21
  • Faculty Fellow for Community Engagement, St. Norbert College, 2019-2020
  • University of Bonn Fellowship. 7th International Summer School in German Philosophy, 2017
  • University of Bonn Fellowship. 6th International Summer School in German Philosophy, 2016
  • Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship. One year of full funding for dissertation research as an exchange student at the University of Bonn, 2014-15
  • Center for Law, Philosophy, and Human Values (University of Chicago Law School) Dissertation Year Fellowship, 2014-15
  • University of Chicago Fellowship, 2009-14

Service to the Profession

  • Journal Referee: European Journal of Philosophy, Inquiry; Moral Philosophy and Politics; Social Philosophy Today, Social Theory and Practice
  • American Philosophical Association Committee for the Defense of the Professional Rights of Philosophers (2023-)

Service to the College

  • Co-Director of the Peace and Justice Minor, 2020-present
  • Killeen Chair Committee, 2019-present
  • Undergraduate Philosophy Club Advisor, 2020-2024
  • Academic Service Learning Advisory Committee, 2022-present
  • The Norman Miller Center for Peace, Justice, and Public Understanding Advisory Committee, 2019-22
  • Philosophy Department Hiring Committee, Fall 2021