Irem Kurtsal Steen

Headshot of Irem Kurtsal
Department: History
Email: ikurtsal@allegheny.edu
Office Phone: (814) 332-3311
Office Building: Arter Hall
Office Room: 109B
Box #: 27
Faculty Website

Professional Title/s

Assistant Professor

Faculty Credentials

Ph.D., Philosophy, Syracuse University, 2007

Biographical Information

Irem has been teaching at Allegheny College since Fall 2017. Her research is on the metaphysics, epistemology and ethics of identity through time, both of things and of ourselves. In addition to metaphysics, she teaches classes on ethics, epistemology, social philosophy, and free will. She looks to incorporate multiple disciplines’ viewpoints in her teaching and research. Her favorite hobbies are running and acting, especially improv acting. A native of Istanbul, Turkey, she can also be found teaching Mediterranean cooking classes.

I specialize in identity through time, Neo-Aristotelian ontology and social ontology, and philosophy of gender and race. I have research and teaching interests in philosophy of agency, especially related to addiction.

Areas of Specialization

Metaphysics

Areas of Teaching Competence

  • Ethics
  • Applied Ethics
  • Epistemology
  • Philosophy of Science
  • Philosophy of Religion
  • Logic

Courses Taught

  • PHIL 140 Ethics and Community
  • PHIL 165 The Examined Life
  • PHIL 210 Oppression and Liberation
  • PHIL 220 Epistemology
  • PHIL 240 Mind and Brain
  • FS201/PHIL 340 Freedom, Addiction and the Opioid Crisis