Ph.D., Vanderbilt University 2012

Erin Bradfield’s areas of specialization are Aesthetics, Philosophy of Film, and Ethics. Her research focuses on the social and political dimensions of Kantian aesthetics. In particular, she works on issues regarding communication, exclusion, and aesthetic community formation. Dr. Bradfield’s work has been published in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Aesthetics, The Journal of Aesthetic Education, and The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, among other places. Her most recent essays address topics in negative aesthetics, including work on ugliness, disgust, and
the sublime.

In 2018, she coached the Santa Clara University Ethics Bowl team to win the national title at the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl competition. This is the first time a California school has ever won the Nationals! In 2019, she coached the team to win the California Regional competition, followed by a top eight finish at the Nationals in 2020.

Dr. Bradfield earned a B.A. from Colgate University and a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.