Emile Chan

Areas of Specialisation

Philosophy of Emotion, Action Theory, Epistemology

Areas of Competence

Philosophy of Mind, Meta-Ethics, Normative Ethics

Current Research Projects

A Virtue Reliabilist of Justified Emotions

Sentimental Willpower: An Emotional Theory of Synchronic Self-Control

Reconstructing the Epistemic Similarity between Emotional and Perceptual Experiences

Supervisors

Dr Joel Smith

Dr Thomas Smith

Dr Jonathan Mitchell

Examiners

Prof Helen Beebee (Chair)

Prof Peter Poellner (External)

Dr Stepthen Ingram (Internal)

The University of Manchester

Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (2017 – 2021)

Lingnan University

Master of Philosophy in Philosophy (2014 – 2016)

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Philosophy (2012 – 2014)

The Community College at Lingnan University

Associate Degree of Arts in Philosophy (2010 – 2012)

The University of Manchester

• SoSS Academic Advisor (Autumn 2021-)
  • Philosophical Support & Curriculum Alignment
    • Provide specialised academic support to undergraduate students in Philosophy, PPE, and related Humanities subjects.
    • Stay updated on recent philosophical scholarship and integrate current research articles into advising sessions to ensure alignment with course content.
  • Skills Development & Guidance
    • Offer tailored essay-writing support, focusing on argumentation, critical analysis, and clarity of expression—key skills in philosophical discourse.
    • Facilitate students’ understanding of complex philosophical theories, frameworks, and primary texts.
  • Collaboration & Curriculum Enhancement
    • Work closely with faculty and teaching staff to identify course goals and learning outcomes, providing feedback on emerging student needs and academic trends.
    • Participate in departmental discussions on syllabus updates, sharing insights from student advising to inform continuous improvement of course units.
  • Research Engagement & Professional Growth
    • Maintain active engagement with contemporary philosophical research and emerging pedagogical methods, attending workshops and conferences to refine advisory practices.
    • Contribute to academic initiatives by collaborating on program design, staff-student liaison activities, and study skills workshops.
  • Student Wellbeing & Holistic Support
    • Adopt a student-centered approach, offering both academic and pastoral guidance to foster well-being and confidence in the learning process.
    • Signpost additional resources (e.g., careers service, counseling) and facilitate peer-support networks.
  • Outreach & Community Building
    • Engage with department-led events, such as seminars and colloquia, to help students connect classroom theory to broader philosophical conversations.
    • Encourage student participation in research opportunities, reading groups, and conferences to deepen their academic experience.
• Graduate Teaching Assistant
  • Philosophy of Mind (Spring 2018, Autumn 2019, Spring 2022)
    
    • Assisted with seminars and tutorials for a course examining consciousness, the mind-body problem, personal identity, and the nature of subjective experience.
  • Metaphysics and Epistemology (Spring 2020, Autumn 2020)
    • Supported discussions on key metaphysical concepts (existence, identity, causation) and epistemological issues (knowledge, skepticism, justification).
  • Advanced Philosophy of Mind (Spring 2019)
    • Led tutorials and provided feedback on assignments in a course exploring contemporary debates on consciousness, mental representation, and self-knowledge.
  • Normative Ethics (Autumn 2018)
    • Guided students through major ethical theories—consequentialism, deontology, virtue ethics—examining moral judgments and the foundations of right and wrong.
  • Philosophy of Religion (Autumn 2017)
    
    • Facilitated discussions on philosophical questions about the existence of God, faith and reason, the problem of evil, and the nature of religious experience.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

• Teaching Assistant
  • Aspects of Western Philosophy (Autumn 2016)

Lingnan University

• Teaching Assistant
  • History of Chinese Philosophy: From Pre-Qin to Han (Autumn 2015)
  • History of Chinese Philosophy: From Wei-jin to Ming (Spring 2015)

The University of Manchester

PhD Studentship from the School of Social Sciences (2017-2020)

Lingnan University

Scholarship for Outstanding Students (2016)

MPhil Studentship from the Department of Philosophy (2014-2016)

First Class Honours (2014)

President’s List (2014)

Dean’s List (2014)

Dr Maggie Wong Scholarship Award (2014)

The Most Outstanding Resident Academic Award in Jockey Club Hostel E (2014)

The Community College at Lingnan University

Entrance Scholarship Award in Associate Degree (2010)

Honours Roll in Diploma (2010)

Location

Room 2.48, Humanities Bridgeford Street.

Time

By appointment via email.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Lingnan University
Department of Philosophy – A New Epistemic Similarity between Perception and Emotion (Autumn, 2019)
The University of Hong Kong
Department of Philosophy – Reconstructing the Epistemic Similarity between Emotion and Perception (Spring, 2019)
The University of Nottingham
Philosophy in Progress Postgraduate Conference – Justified Emotions and the Exercise of Synchronic Self-Control (Spring, 2019)
The University of Twente
OZSW Research Master Winter School – Sentimental Willpower: An Emotional Theory of Synchronic Self-Control (Autumn, 2018)
The European University of Rome
Virtue Ethics and Psychology: Towards a New Science of Virtues? – Justified Emotions in the Virtue Reliabilist Manner (Autumn, 2018)
The University of Birmingham
The British Postgraduate Philosophical Association – Intellectual Virtues and Justified Emotions, and External Enhancements of the Right Sort (Summer, 2018)
The University of Glasgow
The Consortium of European Research on Emotions – A Virtue Reliabilist Theory of Justified Emotions (Spring, 2018)

PROFESSIONAL AND UNIVERSITY SERVICES

The University of Manchester

Conference Organiser of the Conference ‘New Direction in Philosophy of Emotion’ (Summer, 2019)

Assistant of the Conference ‘The Profession We Want’ (Spring, 2017)

Lingnan University

Examination Invigilator (December, 2015)

Assistant of the Conference ‘Philosophical Methodology’ and ‘Expressivism’ (Spring, 2015)

Examination Invigilator (May, 2014)

University Information Day Assistant (Autumn, 2014)

Service Learning Department (Autumn, 2014)

Academic Affair of The 11^th Philosophy Association (2013 – 2014)

University Information Day Assistant (Autumn, 2013)