Department of Philosophy and Religion

Biography

I research and teach in the philosophical traditions of environmental, feminist, and indigenous thought. I am especially interested in the ways that these traditions intersect and provide ethical guidance for our conduct in the world. My research is problem-oriented, responding to issues that arise in experience and examining the ontologies that motivate our actions. Primarily using an ecofeminist lens, my work is currently focused on relational ontologies and values (ways of articulating our situatedness and responsibility with nonhuman others), geoethics in a time of environmental degradation (ways of expressing our earthly constitution and recommending our comportment), and geoscience (ways of knowing and reasoning about the earth). Outside of the classroom, I have led backcountry excursions in remote areas across the country for over 15 years. I am dedicated to the recognition of philosophical practice in all areas of our lives, especially outdoors where the practice is particularly rewarding.

Personal website: waldkoenig.earth

Education

Ph.D. Philosophy, University of Oregon

M.A. Environmental Philosophy, University of Montana

B.A. Philosophy, Susquehanna University

B.A. Creative Writing, Susquehanna University

Publications

• “Resisting Anthropocentrism with Barred Owls,” Ethics, Policy & Environment (2025).
• “The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality, K.P. Harden, 2021,” co-authored with Asher Brandon Caplan. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 42:3 (2025).
• “Can Moral Enhancement Address Our Environmental Crisis? A Call for Collective Virtue-Oriented Action,” co-authored with Brooke Burns, Rebekah Sinclair, and Nicolae Morar. AJOB Neuroscience, 12:2-3 (2021).