While for most, technology is an ubiquitous presence that shapes our everyday life, for third-year graduate student Mitchell Roberts, it serves as much more. Providing a backbone for his research, it has enabled him to sharpen his interpersonal skills, gain new international experiences and make his mark in the field of philosophy.
As a graduate student in the Department of Philosophy, Roberts originally chose Texas A&M University because of the program’s established areas of strength, including the ethics and philosophy of technology. Since then, his experiences have strengthened his research skills and provided opportunities to travel and collaborate internationally.
“My research is in the philosophy of technology, a field that discusses the nature, development and impact of technology on our society,” Roberts said. "The Texas A&M’s Philosophy Department has unique resources in this area, including faculty members like Martin Peterson and Glen Miller, who are prominent researchers in the field. Also, Texas A&M’s overall strength in engineering research affords me opportunities that I may not find elsewhere. Presenting my research in France and The Netherlands has been immensely important to my professional development.”
Since his first day on campus, Roberts found a strong sense of community on campus and within the department from fellow students and faculty, such as Dr. Kristi Sweet, department head.
“Despite the various research interests among graduate students, everyone is open to reviewing a paper draft or talking through ideas,” Roberts said. “It’s a small thing, but other graduate programs can be cutthroat and competitive. That is not the case here; we’re all interested in seeing each other succeed.”
He explained that the foundation of philosophy is argument and critical thinking, and those arguments don’t always result in a singular right answer.
“Arguments aren’t always interpersonal spouts about politics or TV shows,” Roberts explained. “They are also ideas that we contemplate. Questions like: ‘Why do I like this book and not that one?’ or ‘Why do I believe that the sky is blue?’ or ‘Why am I so angry right now?’ These are real questions that people face daily, but thinking through them enough to offer a satisfying answer is remarkably difficult.”
“Philosophy has not only allowed me to spend most of my time studying some super interesting stuff, but it has quite literally given me the tools that allow me to more easily navigate everyday life.”
Following his graduation in the next three years, Roberts hopes to attain a tenure-track position at a top research university where he can teach and research the philosophy of technology.
“I don’t really know what my life would look like without philosophy,” Roberts said. “I encourage all prospective students to give it a chance. Even if you decide that you don’t want to major in philosophy, get a minor! Philosophy will only help you. The critical thinking skills it provides are crucial for navigating everyday life — especially work life — and novel perspectives can sometimes generate the best results.”