Carolyn W. Korsmeyer

Carolyn Korsmeyer, currently Chair of the Department of Philosophy, is known for her study of "terrible food". Her book, Making Sense of Taste: Food and Philosophy (1999), delves into the philosophy of why we consider such pungent food as extremely hot peppers, soured milk, and game meat to be sophisticated to our palettes.

Since she received her Ph.D. from Brown University in 1972, Korsmeyer has primarily focused her study and research on aesthetics, perception, feminism, ethics, and emotion theory. Her recent publication, Gender and Aesthetics (2004), which is the first volume in the series Understanding Feminist Philosophy, explores many of these issues.

In addition to her academic work, Korsmeyer has received awards for her creative writing: In 2001 she surpassed more than 520 contestants to win the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library's Mark Twain Writing Competition with a chapter that concluded Twain's unpublished short story, A Murder, a Mystery and a Marriage.

Korsmeyer has been recognized for her many achievements. She was awarded the Sustained Achievement Exceptional Scholar Award through the University at Buffalo Research Recognition Program. This award is presented to acknowledge a senior scholar's outstanding performance demonstrated through a body of work over a several year period.

Affiliation(s): Philosophy
Record Group(s): 22

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Biographical File Contains:

• Photographs