Piers Eaton
PhD Candidate at the University of Ottawa
Hi, I’m Piers Eaton, a PhD Candidate at the University of Ottawa.
My PhD thesis, Modernist Theories of Nationalism and the Internet: Examining Welsh and Scottish Nationalism Online, explores the theoretical and practical effects of the transition from print to digital forms of communication on nationalist discourse. My work is supervised by André Lecours and Paul Saurette. I draw heavily from the work of Benedict Anderson, particularly Imagined Communities. I’m using a mixed-methods discourse analysis, and by integrating qualitative and quantitative methods, I aim to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of how nationalist discourse is shaped and communicated online, with quantitative research providing concrete results and qualitative research adding depth.
Education
PhD in Political Science, University of Ottawa, 2021-Present
In addition to the aforementioned thesis, I have also worked as a teaching assistant (TA) across a wide array of political thought courses and worked as a research assistant (RA) for Pascale Massot and Nomi Claire Lazar. I completed a comprehensive major exam in political thought and a comprehensive minor exam in comparative politics. Additionally, I also served as the President for our graduate student organisation, where I organised educational and social events for the department. I was also the Vice-President of the TA and RA union, CUPE 2626, overseeing key operations for a local with over 4,000 members and I am the lead negotiator for the current round of bargaining. During my time at the University of Ottawa I have published articles in American Political Thought, The British Journal of Canadian Studies and Spontaneous Generations.
MLitt in Philosophy, University of St Andrews, 2019-2020
I completed a Master’s of Letters at the University of St Andrews. My thesis, titled Why “No Man Would Choose to Live Without Friends”: Virtuous Friendship, Loneliness and Recognition and completed under the supervision of Dr. Simon James Hope, explored the role of friendship in Aristotle’s moral philosophy and its connection to Hegel’s concept of recognition. In my time at St Andrews, I completed coursework on the work of Kant, Wittgenstein, Spinoza and Bernard Williams, as well as units on current issues in the philosophy of mind, epistemology, ethics and the philosophy of language. During my time in Scotland, I engrossed myself in the national culture by playing goalkeeper for the St Andrew’s men’s Shinty team – a Scottish highland sport similar to the Irish hurling and the Welsh bando. I was also Deputy Viewpoint Editor for the university newspaper, The Saint.
BA (Hons) in Politics and Philosophy, Durham University, 2016-2019
I studied a dual honours degree in politics and philosophy during my undergraduate studies. My dissertation, titled What Reasons Do We Have to Act Morally? Internalism, Foundationalism and Eudaimonia conducted under the supervision of Dr. Christopher Cowie, explored debate between external and internal reasons, drawing on both Kant and Aristotle to argue for an internalist position. During my time at Durham, I was an active member of St. Cuthbert’s Society and the Food & Drink at the award winning student newspaper, The Palatinate.
You can contact me a peaton@uottawa.ca
Piers's Website 