Genae Matthews

Genae Matthews specializes in epistemology and social and feminist philosophy (and their intersections). Their current research investigates the relationship between our social location (i.e., where we are located in social systems of race, gender, class, etc.) and what we are in a position to know or rationally believe about the world. Matthews also enjoys thinking about the morality of different forms of protest — especially violent protest — against injustice and about how propaganda contributes to the perpetuation of injustice. Some of their previous work also examines the different kinds of reasons we might have for inquiring about a question, and how those different kinds of reasons interact.

Matthews teaches courses in ethics, epistemology, and social and feminist philosophy, in addition to introductory courses. They are passionate about teaching philosophy as a skill, and their courses aim to help students to hone that skill by engaging rigorously with a range of texts, from the western philosophical ‘classics,’ to non-western philosophical texts and contemporary feminist and decolonial literature.

When not philosophizing or teaching, Matthews can be found running, climbing, cooking vegan food, or wrangling their three cats (Nori, Tofu, and Baozi).

Selected Publications

(forthcoming) “What Resistance Requires,” Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy

(2025) “Fit-Related Reasons to Inquire,” Australaisian Journal of Philosophy