Dr. Jennifer L Hansen

Jennifer Hansen's work explores the fascinating intersections of philosophy, ethics, technology, and contemporary social issues. Her core research focuses on the Philosophy of Psychiatry, where she critically examines the complex epistemological and normative assumptions underlying depression diagnoses. A significant aspect of her work involves analyzing the pronounced gender disparity in these diagnoses and evaluating the ethical permissibility of prescribing antidepressants for enhancement purposes. Dr. Hansen's philosophical approach to psychiatry is deeply informed by her expertise in Phenomenology, Feminist Philosophy, and American Pragmatism.

More recently, Dr. Hansen has expanded her intellectual pursuits into the dynamic field of Cybersecurity. She's currently pursuing a degree in this area at St. Lawrence University and contributes to the program by teaching the core Cyberethics course. This new direction was partly inspired by her earlier research into Twitter's role in amplifying the #MeToo movement. Currently, Dr. Hansen is engaged in a project that reconsiders Alan Turing's "imitation game," focusing on the often-underestimated significance of gender in the original formulation of the Turing Test.

Administrative Leadership & Service

• Chair, Philosophy Department (2009-2015)
• Coordinator, Gender and Sexuality Studies (2009-2010)
• Associate Dean, First Year Program (2014-2018)
• Served in the First Year Program (2008-2018), where she co-taught courses on "Citizenship and American Democracy" (with Liz Regosin) and "Resilience" (with Geoff Falen).
• Co-developed college courses at Riverview Correctional Facility (with Liz Regosin), a program that has since evolved into a degree-granting initiative managed by SUNY Potsdam.

Courses Taught

• Ancient Philosophy
• Philosophy of American Philosophy
• Philosophy of Psychiatry
• Cyberethics
• Feminist Philosophy
• Existentialism and Phenomenology
• Health Humanities
• Africana Philosophy

Honors & Awards

• Luther W. and Bernice L. Thompson Distinguished Teaching Award, Gettysburg College (May 2005)
• President’s Award to Distinguished Doctoral Students (May 1999)
• M.A. in Philosophy with Distinction, Boston College (May 1994)

Selected Publications

• Hansen, Jennifer. 2023. “A Reconsideration of the Role of Philosophy of Leisure in the Reconstruction and Promotion of Leisure.” In Philosophy and Human Flourishing, edited by John J. Stuhr. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Hansen, Jennifer. 2023. “A Pluralist Hope: Or, Against Optimizing Neurochemistry on Some Moonlit Dream-Visited Planet.” Journal of Speculative Philosophy 37 (4): 479-502.
• Hansen, Jennifer. 2021. “Truth and Discursive Activism: The Promise and Perils of Hashtag Feminism.” Journal of Speculative Philosophy 35 (2):117-129.
• Hansen, Jennifer. 2018. “The Hopeful Hashtag: Digital Feminist Publics in the Trump Era.” Dewey Studies 2(3): 61-102.
• Hansen, Jennifer. 2017. “Cosmopolitan Hope.” In Cosmopolitanism and Place, edited by John J. Stuhr, José Medina, and Jessica Wahman. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
• Hansen, Jennifer. 2015. “A Virtue-Based Approach to Neuro-Enhancement in the Context of Psychiatric Practice.” In The Oxford Handbook of Psychiatric Ethics, edited by John Z. Sadler, K.W.M. Fulford, and Werdie (C.W.) van Standen. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Hansen, Jennifer. 2013. “From Hinge Narrative to Habit: Self-Oriented-Narrative-Psychotherapy meets Feminist Phenomenological Theories of Embodiment.” Philosophy, Psychiatry, and Psychology 20(1).
• Hansen, Jennifer. 2004. “Affectivity: Depression and Mania.” In The Philosophy of Psychiatry: A Companion, edited by Jennifer Radden. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Hansen, Jennifer and Ginger Hoffman. 2017. “Antidepressants and Pharmaceutical Marketing.” Philosophy, Psychiatry, and Psychology 24(4): 285-298.
• Hansen, Jennifer and Ginger Hoffman. 2017. “Situation Depression Memoirs’ Effects Deeper Inside our Biology and Further Outward Within Circuits of Culture: Exploring the Roles of Antidepressants and Pharmaceutical Marketing.” Philosophy, Psychiatry, and Psychology 24(4): 307-312.
• Hansen, Jennifer and Ginger Hoffman. 2011. “Is Prozac a Feminist Drug?” International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics 4(1).

Professional Blog Essays

• Hansen, Jennifer. “Will AI Relationships End Loneliness?: The Turing Test’s True Question.” Beyond Belief. January 25, 2023.
• Hansen, Jennifer. “How My Experience With Depression Made Me a Feminist: It’s Not Just About Neurons.” Beyond Belief. March 31, 2023

Guest Appearances on Podcasts

• Partially Examined Life Podcast: Episode 232: “What is the Existential Situation of Woman? (Part One and Part Two).” December 23, 2019.
• Partially Examined Life Podcast: Episode 234: “What is Romance? (Part One and Part Two).” January 20, 2020.
• Partially Examined Life Podcast: Episode 235: “Are Gender and Sex Socially Constructed, and If So, How?” (Part One and Part Two). February 3, 2020.
• Philosophy vs. Improv Podcast: Episode 20: “The ‘Other’ Story with Jenny Hansen.” December 2, 2021.
• Partially Examined Life Podcast: Episode 301 (Part 3): “Is Abortion Morally Permissible?” October 10, 2022.
• Philosophy vs. Improv Podcast: Episode 61: TEAM PLAY CIRCUS with Adal Rifai and Jenny Hansen.” September 16, 2023.

Video Interview

• PSAGACITY: New Media for New Ideas in the Philosophy of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, and Mental Health. Jennifer Hansen. May 2015.