Photograph of Dean Joseph

Dean Joseph

Ph.D. Candidate

Philosophy

People Directory Affiliation Category
Research Interests

Social and Political Philosophy, Democratic Theory, Animal and Disability Ethics, Social Epistemology

Biography
  • B.A., Honours (Philosophy), Saint Mary’s University
  • M.A. (Philosophy), Concordia University

I’m interested in why democracy matters. Many of us think it matters, but its value is increasingly disputed in political theory. My dissertation explores the idea that democracy enables us to co-author a shared society and asks how democratic values extend to animals, children, and persons with profound cognitive disabilities.

In a second research track, I ask how trust shapes our political life. I focus on how trust deepens political disagreements and when distrust is warranted. I approach these questions through cases involving marginalized minorities as well as conspiracy theories and echo chambers.

I am a . In 2023, I was a research fellow at Concordia University’s and Montreal’s interuniversity . In Fall 2026, I will be a visiting doctoral researcher in philosophy at the .

Publications
  • “” (2025) Social Epistemology: 1–14 (online first)