Project Description

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RESEARCH AREAS:

  • Environmental Philosophy

  • Existentialist Ethics

  • Feminist Philosophy

CONTACT:

KENDRA C. DUKE

Independent Scholar

Kendra C. Duke is an independent scholar whose research explores the intersection of environmental ethics, existentialism, feminist theory, and governance. Drawing from both analytical and continental traditions, her work often examines how systemic ecological, political, and social crises manifest in the body, habits, and moral reasoning of individuals. She is especially interested in embodied ethics, moral agency under constraint, and the political implications of philosophical narratives.

Duke’s academic background includes a Master’s in Philosophy and ongoing independent research contributions to public and academic discourse. She is a non-resident member of the Rotman Institute of Philosophy and an active participant in academic conferences, public-facing philosophy platforms, and creative writing communities.

Her approach to philosophy is grounded in interdisciplinary practice: she blends rigorous theoretical inquiry with narrative, poetic, and visual forms to investigate how humans respond to collapse, power, and meaning-making.

Duke’s current research agenda includes:

  • Developing an existential environmental ethics framework rooted in embodiment, revolt, and public policy reform, with particular emphasis on how environmental degradation intersects with public health crises.
  • Investigating visual culture, nudity, and commodification through feminist and Kantian lenses.
  • Exploring governance breakdowns through philosophical analysis of corporate power, state neutrality, and democratic erosion.
  • Writing public philosophy that connects ethical theory to lived social, ecological, and political conditions.

Examining speculative and science-informed political models as tools for reimagining public policy, arguing that while technological systems (e.g., communication devices, automation) have advanced rapidly, contemporary political institutions remain outdated and resistant to ethical innovation.

  • “Expelling Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe: The Gaze, Objectification, and the Illusion of Agency” – Presented at Arts in Society 2025; in revision for journal submission
  • “Existentialist Environmental Ethics: Sartre, Saint Genet, and Koyaanisqatsi” — Presented at IAEP 2025; journal manuscript in preparation
  • “Parental Rights versus Child Welfare: A Philosophical Case Against Anti-Vaccine and Homeschooling” – Essay in revision
  • Multiple poetry publications in literary journals including Amethyst Review and Blank Spaces
  • Former Teaching Assistant, Department of Philosophy at Queen’s University
  • Tutor, Learning Disabilities Association of Toronto District (LDATD)