Christopher Eversole is a third-year philosophy major minoring in psychology and president of the Philosophers' Guild at GSU. He is primarily interested in social and contemporary philosophy, with specific attention to prison reform, social justice, and improved equity. In this interview, we catch up with Chris about his experience at GSU and his plans for the future.
What has been your most memorable experience in the philosophy dept at GSU thus far?
My relationship with my professor, Dr. Peter Lindsay, and the prison visits that he organized which I was lucky enough to be invited to, were without a doubt the most memorable experiences I had in the philosophy department. It significantly helped me focus on what I wanted to do—I had written essays on drug legalization and prison reform previously, but this gave me an opportunity to meet the disenfranchised people that I want to advocate for. Not only that, but also, I was able to hear their stories, and develop meaningful personal relationships with them. This was very important to me academically, but also for my own personal development.
What is something useful you’ve learned from your time in the BA program in philosophy thus far?
One thing that many people overlook about philosophy is how it can be a practical and active science. There’s an idea that philosophy is only some ancient lofty practice done by old Greeks that has no impact on them or their daily lives. Philosophy is a genuinely useful tool in day-to-day life. Critical reasoning skills, argumentative prowess, and writing aptitude are all skills that are practical and honed by philosophy.
What are your future plans?
I’m planning on pursuing a PPE (political science, philosophy, and economics) master’s degree from GSU. The intersectionality of these three topics is valuable in several industries, such as government contracted work and in financial firms. I plan to get a job in one of those sectors until I can save up enough to pursue my long-term goals of attending graduate school, where I will hopefully gain my Ph.D. in philosophy and become a collegiate professor.
Any advice for prospective students considering a degree in philosophy?
First of all, DO IT! It’s fun (in my opinion) and gives you valuable skills. Secondly, learn how to write as soon as possible, and learn how to apply a logical framework to your writing. If you can do those two things there is no doubt in my mind that you can succeed in philosophy. Finally, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t argue this-or-that. Although it is important to listen to and incorporate your professor’s feedback into your work (or anyone’s feedback for that matter) you can always find a way to defend your point if it’s valid. And if not, there’s no shame in going back to the drawing board and finding a new framework. The process is what’s important, so don’t just give up at the first sign of resistance. Every revision you make should be stronger than the previous.
Tell us more about yourself- interests, hobbies, etc
I spend a lot of my time as the president of the Philosopher’s Guild here at GSU, mainly conducting meetings and working through red tape. I am also a board member of Bridge GSU, a chapter of Bridge USA, which is an organization focused on creating a civil discourse between opposing ideologies. In my personal life, I enjoy game design, graphic art, hiking, biking, and many different crafts. I even make my own envelopes out of upcycled maps and books. I am also very passionate about my religious community, even though I would consider myself more spiritual than religious as I am largely agnostic (leaning atheist). I am a Quaker, and many of my passions and values have been shaped through my time with many friends within the institution. Social justice, inclusion, equity, community outreach, and religious tolerance are all core values of Quakerism that I carry with me every day and help me work towards building a better future.