October 24, 2025
Meet our new faculty: Qiong Wu
Qiong Wu, philosophy | Photo by Rick Smith
My research focuses on: We seem to have a lot of knowledge about possibility and necessity, such as knowledge that it is possible for our solar system to have more than eight planets, and it is necessary for 2 plus 2 to equal 4. But it is unclear where this knowledge comes from. No matter what we see, or touch, or smell in the world, it seems always about what is actually the case rather than what is possible or necessary to be the case. In my research, I ask about the nature of possibility and necessity and their interaction with various philosophical subfields, including metaphysics, epistemology, and metaethics.
This fall, I am teaching: Logic and Theories of Knowledge. The first course, Logic, teaches how to distinguish good from bad arguments both in English and in different formal, logical languages. It also introduces some of the most important developments in mathematical logic.
Theories of Knowledge discusses fundamental questions about knowledge, including whether we ever know anything about the world, what it is to know something, how we acquire scientific knowledge, and so on.
What students can expect from me: I encourage my students to not just learn about philosophy but to *do* philosophy, which involves critically assessing other people’s ideas, finding solutions to puzzles, developing and defending their own ideas, and so on. I view myself as an initiator of these “philosophical experiences” who triggers interests and models epistemic virtues including rigor, clarity, and charity.
Getting to know me: I am a big fan of badminton. In the past two years, I have built a badminton community at my Ph.D. program and a different one at my partner’s program. I look forward to playing with Lafayette people.
