I am a political theorist and Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Government at Harvard University.
I write on issues in political ethics and democratic theory, with a special interest in the relationship between institutional norms and political morality. My dissertation, “A Theory of Gamesmanship,” develops a novel theory of the normativity of the rules regulating democratic competition. It acknowledges that formalistic, rule-based decisionmaking in politics is often legitimate, even when it leads to substantively objectionable results, and yet it finds that this does not legitimate, much less morally justify, every action performed in accordance with the rules. The project engages with perennial issues in jurisprudence, theories of normativity and rationality, political liberalism, and debates about realism vs. idealism in political theorizing. What emerges is an account of the normativity of rules in politics that is capable of ruling out many forms of “fighting dirty” while retaining a place for justifiable strategic maneuvering in the agonistic realm of political conflict.
In addition to my work in normative political theory, I have an ongoing side project that focuses on developing a general educational curriculum to build students’ capacity for participating in ethically-charged discussions that folks from diverse backgrounds can experience as both inclusive and yet intellectually productive. This project grew out of my time as an Ethics Pedagogy Fellow at the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University for the 2018 – 2019 and 2019 – 2020 academic years.
Previously, I worked in science policy and professional ethics in the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights & Law Program in Washington, D.C. Additionally, I spent two years teaching high school English in Memphis, TN as a Teach for America corps member.
I hold a B.A. (Hons.) in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy from James Madison College at Michigan State University (2011).
Harvard University
Department of Government
1737 Cambridge St.
Cambridge, MA 2138
Email: palmiter@g.harvard.edu