Assistant Professor of Philosophy | Rowan University
tiina [dot] rosenqvist [at] gmail [dot] com
About Me
I am an assistant professor of philosophy at Rowan University. My current research focuses on empirically guided philosophy of perception and philosophy of medicine, but my interests span a wide range of topics related to how humans and other animals perceive, think about, and interact with their environments. I like to think about color and pain, about the connections between intellectual traditions, about pain reports and credibility deficits, and about how we should approach metaphysical and epistemological questions relating to cognition and perception. I'm Finnish and lived in India and Hong Kong before relocating to the US, where I’ve been a green card holder since 2024.
Research
My first area of specialization is in the philosophy of psychology and cognitive science, with a focus on perception. I am particularly interested in color vision (see here and here) and pain (see here). On a more general level, I reject the widely held view that perception is in the business of representing the objective world "as it is" (see here and here). More recently, I have branched out to philosophy of medicine and social epistemology (see here, here, and here). My paper, "Engineering the Concept of Pain for Clinical Practice," was the recipient of the Canadian Philosophical Association Nontenured Faculty Essay Prize 2025 (see here).
Teaching & Service
In my teaching, I combine flexibility with a highly structured course design to reduce the achievement gap and improve learning outcomes across the board. I set high expectations, offer skill-building workshops to equip my students with the tools they need to succeed, and use an assignment and assessment structure that rewards progress and improvement. I'm passionate about diversifying philosophy, promoting disability inclusion and accessibility, and fostering wellness. You can read more about my teaching experience, teaching philosophy, and service projects by clicking the buttons below.
Tibetan Language
From 2014 to 2017 I studied Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala, Northern India. In 2019, LTWA published a book of Tibetan Folk Tales that I co-translated with my teacher and friend, Nyima Dekyi la. If you are interested in learning more about the Tibetan language, the book, and my reasons for studying Tibetan, click the button below.
Images
Art and artists have much to offer philosophical discussions of (visual) perception. In my free time, I enjoy creating images that illustrate fascinating perceptual phenomena. Many of these phenomena are typically labeled visual "illusions," though I believe they highlight the many ways in which perception can be useful to animals like us.
Get in Touch
tiina [dot] rosenqvist [at] gmail [dot] com
rosenqvist [at] rowan [dot] edu
Department of Philosophy & World Religions
Laurel Hall Rm. 215, Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Road
Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA