Rate My Professor David Friedell

Friedell's research lies in Metaphysics, Aesthetics, and Philosophy of Language, with a primary focus on abstract artifacts—immaterial objects created by humans, including novels, symphonies, corporations, languages, words, and fictional characters. This work addresses metaphysical issues such as causation, vague existence, vague identity, change, time, and creation. His publications appear in prominent journals such as Philosophical Studies, Analysis, The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, Ratio, Philosophy Compass, Res Philosophica, and Philosophia. Key works include 'Why Can’t I Change Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony?' (Philosophical Studies, 2020), 'How Statues Speak' with Shen-yi Liao (The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 2022), 'Creating Abstract Objects' (Philosophy Compass, 2021), 'Fiction and Indeterminate Identity' (Analysis, 2020), 'Medicalization and Linguistic Agency' with Ashley Feinsinger (Ratio, 2020), 'Abstracta Are Causal' (Philosophia, 2020), 'Music and Vague Existence' (Res Philosophica, 2017), and 'A Problem for All of Creation' (The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 2017). Friedell has also edited the forthcoming volume The Philosophy of Ted Chiang (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025), featuring contributions on time machines, oracles, and predictors. His ongoing research explores music, linguistic agency, the meaning of artworks, personal beauty, and Jewish identity. Friedell teaches courses such as Metaphysics, Aesthetics, Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of Race and Gender, Environmental Ethics, Biomedical Ethics, Epistemology, Philosophy of Sports and Games, Philosophy and Film, Time Travel, Philosophy of Technology, and Introduction to Philosophy.