Brief Biography

Dr. Damon Young is an Honourary Fellow in Philosophy, and author of essays, fiction and poetry.  

As an academic, Damon has written scholarly articles on everything from aesthetics to martial arts, democracy to masturbation. He has lectured on continental philosophy and globalisation theory, and developed courses on myth, history and creative writing.

Damon is also a so-called 'pop' philosopher. He has written for Meanjin and Overland, and his book Distraction: A Philosopher's Guide to Being Free will be published in September 2008. With Professor Graham Priest, he is editing an anthology on martial arts and philosophy, for Open Court (US).  He is also working on The Allure of the Garden: imaginative essays on the philosophy of gardens.

Damon also appeared regularly on radio in 2007, as the 'sports philosopher' on SEN1116.

Damon is active in the 'philosophy in schools' movement, particularly art and aesthetics. He has worked with schools including Geelong Grammar, Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne Grammar and University High.

Books

-Distraction: A Philosopher's Guide to Modern Life (MUP, 2008) 

-Martial Arts and Philosophy (with Professor Graham Priest) (Open Court, 2010).

-The Allure of the Garden (in progress).

Academic Essays

-'Bowing to Your Enemies: Courtesy, Budo and Japan', Philosophy East and West 59 2 (2009), forthcoming.

-'The Fine Arts of Distinction: Bourdieu on Society and Art', The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Art 7 2 (2006).

-'Being Grateful for Being: Being, Reverence and Finitude', Sophia 44 2 (2005): 31-53.

-'Knowing Thyself...In Private: Masturbation and Philosophy', Sexuality and Culture 9 4 (2005): 58-80.

-'The Democratic Chorus: Culture, Dialogue and Polyphonic Paideia', Democracy and Nature 9 2 (2003): 221-235.

-'Not Easy Being Green: Process, Poetry and the Tyranny of Distance', Ethics, Place and Environment    5 3 (2002): 189-204.

-'Stealing the Voice of Orpheus: Process, Language and Narrative Justice', Concrescence 3 1 (2002): 1-12.

-'The Mortal Blessings of Narrative: Death, Poetry and the Beginnings of Cultural Change', Philosophy Today 45 3/4 (2001): 275-285.

-Damon Young & Ruth Quibell, 'Why Rights Are Never Enough: Rights, Disability and Understanding', Disability and Society 15 5 (2000): 743-760.

-'Quantum Karma : Semantic Superficiality in New Age Religions', Democracy and Nature 4 2/3 (1999): 95-112.

-'The Rational Resolution of Paradigm Disputes', Meteorite 1 1 (1998): 114-127.

Literary Essays

-'On Fiction and Philosophy', Meanjin 67 3 (2008), forthcoming.

-'The Languorous Siesta: On Summer Reading', Meanjin 66 4/67 1 (2007/8): 62-8.

-'Sparta for Our Times: Why 300 in 2007?', Meanjin 66 2 (2007): 174-8.

-'Faith Without God: Kazantzakis and Faith', Meanjin 65 4 (2006).

-'Facing Nietzsche's Demon', Meanjin 64 3 (2005): 15-19.

Fiction

-'The Lesson', Meanjin 67 3 (2008), forthcoming.

Poetry

-'Beauty' and 'Ground Control' in Around the Block (Preston: Flat Chat Press, 2007).

-'The Idea of a Great Gallery', Overland 179 (2005): 41.

-'Howard Watches the Oscars and Weeps With Joy', Overland 174 (2004): 124.

Philosophy in Schools

-'Matisse's Hernia', Baccalaureate 'Festival of Ideas', Geelong Grammar, 2008.

-'Proust at Balbec', at 'Aesthetics Today', Professional Development Day, National Gallery of Victoria, 2007.

-'Plato, Art and Truth', Baccalaureate 'Festival of Ideas', Methodist Ladies' College, 2006, 2007, 2008.

-'Picasso: Love and War' workshop, National Gallery of Victoria, 2006

Philosophy of Sport

In 2007 Damon was the 'sports philosopher' on SEN 1116 AM, on the 'Social Club' with Francis Leach, fortnightly on Saturdays.  Damon and Francis are now working on a book based on the series, tentatively-entitled Go In Hard and You Won't Get Hurt: Sports Philosophy For Domesticated Males.

Philosophy and the Martial Arts

Together with Professor Graham Priest, Damon is developing two books on philosophy and the martial arts - one for Open Court's 'Philosophy and Popular Culture' series, and an anthology of scholarly essays. A conference, 'Philosophy and the Martial Arts', was hosted by the School in 2006.  Another will be held in late 2009. (More here.)

Contact Details

Phone: +613 8344 0266
Email: youngd@unimelb.edu.au
Postal address: School of Philosophy, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010 Victoria, AUSTRALIA