Congratulations to Ben Mulchinock on completing his M.A. in Philosophy and continuing on to the PhD program this fall!
A recipient of the Paul Tang Memorial Graduate Scholarship, Ben says he grew as a writer, teacher, presenter, and scholar, while also developing the balance and habits needed to thrive in graduate studies. He credits much of his growth to the support and mentorship of his supervisor, Dr. Alison Wylie, and is especially proud of completing his thesis on knowledge co-production in Indigenous collaborative research.
We chatted with Ben to learn a bit more about his journey as a philosophy grad student and where his research interests will take him next.
What is one highlight or memorable moment from your time with the department of philosophy?
Over the summer of my first year in the program, I and several other grads co-developed a seminar centred around Indigenous philosophy and critique. We all proposed texts that interested us individually, and we ended up with a nicely well-rounded set of readings. Because we developed the syllabus ourselves, we were especially invested in each week’s readings. We got to present on topics we were interested in, and we also got to learn about each other’s interests and approaches.
How have you changed since your first year?
I think I’ve become a stronger student in practically all aspects: writing, presenting, teaching, reading, discussing, thinking, and so on. I’ve also developed the required habits to succeed in a grad school setting. There’s lots to do, and I’ve had to learn how to balance my responsibilities with my time off.
What advice would you give to incoming or current students?
First, be kind to yourself. Academic philosophy (and academia more generally) teaches you to be self-critical throughout your work. While this can be beneficial, there are times when such self-criticism can be excessive and lead to needless frustration and self-doubt. Try to avoid this. Second, explore areas beyond your specialty. This can come, for example, from taking a seminar in another department, or from approaching your area from another subdiscipline within philosophy.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’ll be starting my PhD in philosophy in the department.
Who or what has had the biggest impact on your academic journey?
I’ve been very lucky to have Dr. Alison Wylie as my supervisor during my MA. Dr. Wylie has provided endless support and constructive feedback over my two years in the department. I’ve become a much better philosopher because of her.
What is one thing you are most proud of accomplishing during your time in the program?
I’m quite proud of finishing my thesis knowledge co-production in Indigenous collaborative research, which was the longest text I’d ever written.
