Iskra Fileva Ph.D.

About

Iskra Fileva, Ph.D., is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado, Boulder. In her academic work, she specializes in moral psychology and issues at the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and psychiatry. The focus of her current research is on the connections and tensions between conscious and unconscious motivation, the nature of moral emotions, and the boundary between bad character and personality disorders.

She is, however, interested in all things human: how and what we remember, how we achieve intimacy, what makes some people good at relating to others, why we misunderstand each other, why we fear death, whether adults understand a child's mind, and many others. She enjoys writing for a non-academic audience and has previously written for The New York Times.

Books by Iskra Fileva Ph.D.

Recent Posts

Is There a Widening Rift Between Men and Women?

It is said that women are increasingly more likely to lean to the left and men to the right, and that this divergence may spell doom for marriage. Is this true?

The Power We Have Over Each Other

We are acutely aware of the power of others to hurt us but not of our own power to hurt them. Why?

How We Can Set Ourselves Up for Failure

"Margaret" had been trying to lose weight for years without success, and then, one summer, she shed 40 pounds. What happened? What was different that time?

Why We Fall Into Mental Traps

Sometimes, we submit to the oppressive aspects of life voluntarily, by accepting them as fixed and immutable even when they are not. We fall into a mental trap. Why?

Empathy and Madness

Sometimes our inability to empathize with "the other side" becomes so extreme that we remain unmoved even by the sight of children in body bags. Why?

What Else Do We Want Out of Life?

Sometimes, we are unhappy because we find ourselves in terrible circumstances, but at other times, we seem unhappy for no apparent reason. Why is this?

Why a Well-Adjusted Partner Can Make Some People Nervous

Some people appear, paradoxically, to become neurotic next to a calm and well-adjusted partner. Why?

Do We Matter?

It is often suggested that given how vast the universe is, only hubris can lead us to think that we, humans, matter. But is that right?

Loving People Who Love Only Themselves

A Personal Perspective: Sometimes, we love a person who seems unable to love anyone other than him or herself. We love an egoist.

The Unfree Tourist: Visiting Paris, But Not the Louvre

A Personal Perspective: Many tourists feel like they have to visit particular landmarks (and be impressed). Why?