Student Spotlight - Amina Stone-Taylor

Amina Stone-Taylor

Q: When did you graduate?

I graduated in May 2020.

Q: What were your major(s) and/or minor(s)?

I majored in philosophy with a concentration in business.

Q: Why did you choose to become a philosophy major?

I chose philosophy because it would best prepare me for law school. Philosophy afforded me the opportunity to improve my reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. All of the aforementioned are essential for success in law school.

Q: What are your goals for the future? Do you have plans to attend graduate school, or do you have a career in mind upon graduation?

I am going to attend law school! I plan to practice education law or do child advocacy work.

Q: What are your interests in philosophy?

My first major interest in philosophy is the social contract theory. I enjoyed learning about the different contracts that philosophers like Locke, Hobbes, and Rousseau formed. Another major interest of mine is formal logic and reasoning. I loved learning about fallacious reasoning and what the components of a strong argument are.

Q: Who are your favorite philosophers?

My favorite philosophers are Thomas Hobbes, John Rawls, Immanuel Kant, and Karl Marx.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote by a philosopher?

"Be a free thinker and don't accept everything you hear as truth. Be critical and evaluate what you believe in."—Aristotle

Q: Do you have a favorite book in philosophy?

Leviathan, by Thomas Hobbes.

Q: Have you had any recent accomplishments such as conferences you attended/ presented at, awards/scholarships you have received, contests you have won, publications you have made and so forth?

I was accepted to my #1 choice—Columbia Law School! In addition, I was accepted to other institutions such as Georgetown, Fordham, and Brooklyn Law School. Thank you to the Philosophy Department and especially Professor Penny Repetti and Professor Serene Khader for writing letters of recommendation on my behalf.