Hsin-Wen Lee often asks students a short question: Do you agree? It doesn’t matter if the answer is yes or no, because the associate professor of philosophy isn’t teaching students what to think or believe in. “I don’t grade them based on whether they agree or not. I grade them based on how they explain why they agree or disagree,” she said.

The associate professor of philosophy joined the University of Delaware in the spring of 2017. Before UD, she taught in the Department of Public Policy at the City University of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on social and political philosophy and the philosophy of law, with current work exploring issues in criminal punishment, multiculturalism, nationalism, and the ethical and legal dimensions of governance. At UD, Professor Lee regularly teaches courses in social and political philosophy, contemporary moral problems, and ethics, engaging students with questions of justice, fairness and the moral challenges that shape public life.

We asked Lee about her classes and how the study of philosophy benefits students across disciplines. 

Q: For readers who may not know, how would you explain social and political philosophy in simple terms?

Lee: It’s really the study of how we should manage public affairs. Think about laws, public policy, the distribution of resources and the moral foundations of decisions governments make. When we ask questions like What is justice? What counts as discrimination? What is fair? That’s social and political philosophy at work.

Q: Some people think philosophy is only about ancient thinkers. How does your research connect to the real world today?

Lee: That’s a misconception I try to correct often. People philosophize all the time without realizing it. Whenever someone evaluates a new law or calls a policy “right” or “wrong,” they’re doing philosophy. My current project is on the justification of criminal punishment, which has direct real-world implications. I’ve even visited prisons, in Sweden, for example, to understand daily practices and how prison culture affects people. I still remember speaking with psychiatrists who told me that inmates “doing well” isn’t always a good sign, because it might mean they’re acclimating too much to prison life. Insights like that raise important philosophical questions about what punishment should do and what humane treatment means. Those aren’t abstract concerns; they’re deeply practical.

Q: What kinds of students take your courses, and what do they enjoy about them?

Lee: Most of my classes are general education courses, so the majority of students aren’t philosophy majors; many take the course to fulfill a requirement, though word-of-mouth also brings students in. They tend to enjoy the interactive, flexible structure: Each lecture pairs with a short assignment asking, “Do you agree with the theory discussed today? Why or why not?” This encourages critical thinking rather than memorization, fosters peer learning and allows the course to adapt to student feedback. Discussions often focus on real-world ethical and political issues such as abortion, gun control, immigration, criminal punishment and distributive justice.

Q: What major philosophical issues do you see being discussed today?

Lee: One issue within academia is the declining number of philosophy majors. It surprises me, because the data consistently shows philosophy majors perform extremely well on the GRE, LSAT, and in long-term salary growth. The practical value is there; people just don’t always see it.

Q: When students leave your classroom, what do you hope they carry with them?

Lee: Independent thinking, above anything else. Policies change, crises emerge, and everyone has to vote or make decisions. I want students to evaluate information, understand the values behind choices, and think critically in both public and private life. Ethics especially helps with everyday decisions: It helps students identify what matters, why it matters, who is affected and what information they need to make good choices. 

Q: How do you keep discussions respectful? 

Lee: We focus on arguments rather than individuals, allowing students to present differing perspectives hypothetically, encouraging everyone to listen, and using assignments to ensure quieter voices are included.

Q: If a student stopped you on campus and asked why they should take a philosophy course, what would you say?

Lee: I’d recommend starting with Ethics (PHIL 203) or Contemporary Moral Problems (PHIL 202). Students love these courses because they tackle issues everyone cares about, like abortion, euthanasia, drug use, gun control, environmental ethics, distributive justice and more. People don’t always realize these are philosophical problems, but once they engage with them, the appeal becomes clear. Philosophy teaches you how to analyze, question and reason, not just in academic settings but in daily life.