For Franklin senior Nathan Haynes, a multidisciplinary education felt like the natural path. He chose philosophy, he said, because it teaches people how to think about life, how we experience the world, and how we determine what has value.He added English as a double major to explore his strong interest in literary theory, where philosophical questions and storytelling intersect. He also pursued a Spanish minor, he said, to engage more organically with those around him, having grown up in Dalton, Ga., a community with a large Spanish-speaking population. 

Now, on the cusp of graduation, Haynes reflects on his education, which has included research as an important component. 

“My research has been diverse in terms of topics, but it has all orbited two central questions: What does it mean to live in spaces with diverse groups, and how can we understand thought and ethics with respect to human togetherness and collective growth?” he explained.

Through his research, Haynes studied how language, technology, and sociopolitical philosophy approach these questions, while critiquing views of thought that rely too heavily on singular models of subjectivity and unsupported metaphysical assumptions. Recently, this work turned to a topic on many minds, artificial intelligence.

“I wanted to explore how the emergence of generative AI disrupts and reshapes our conceptions of representation, subjectivity, and lived experience,” he said.

Haynes’ favorite class while at Franklin was Contemporary Continental Philosophy with his mentor, Elizabeth Brient, associate professor in the department of philosophy. The course helped shape the central figures in his philosophical interests and the key questions guiding his research. It also led directly to research opportunities and sparked his pursuit of further study in philosophy.

“Nathan is one of the most promising philosophical thinkers I have had the pleasure of teaching over the years,” says Brient. “He has a creative and original way of situating and interrelating philosophical ideas and themes in ways that open up fascinating lines of inquiry and perspectives that I find wonderfully stimulating and truly refreshing.” Brient encouraged Haynes to participate in graduate-level courses, and their work together became central to the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) projects he completed in his junior and senior years.

“Dr. Brient is a brilliant scholar,” Haynes says. “She has been patient and understanding while also supporting and advancing my intellectual growth.”

Haynes’ CURO projects resulted in two publications. In 2025, his paper “Taking Pride Seriously: Race and Gender Identity in Social Constructionist Models” was published in The Classic. This year, his paper “Does Literary Criticism Have a Future? Technological and Representational Ambiguity in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence” was selected as the best paper in the arts, humanities, and media category at CURO and is under review for publication in the Journal of Undergraduate Research Opportunities. He also received the Frank Harrison III Scholarship for outstanding work in ancient philosophy.

Haynes also served as a department of philosophy ambassador for two years. In this role, he conducted interviews, promoted the department in various contexts, talked to visiting job candidates, and organized a philosophical film screening.

“Nathan has done a great deal for the department over the last two years. The philosophy community here is in a much better place because of his efforts,” says department head Aaron Meskin.

Haynes’ exploration of the human condition took him to South America during his junior year through the UGA en Buenos Aires study abroad program in Argentina. There, he completed upper-level Spanish courses, strengthening both his conversational and academic fluency. The experience provided valuable cultural insight, fostered lasting friendships and expanding his worldview. He also discovered the work of Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, adding a new dimension to his literary interests.

“Philosophy as a discipline requires an active and curious mind oriented toward critical thinking,” he said. “For me, curiosity is essential. It allows us to grow as individuals and scholars throughout our lives.”

Haynes encourages incoming students to maintain an active mindset toward learning.

“It can be easy to sit back and focus only on completing coursework,” he said. “But there is a whole world of meaningful engagement and enriching opportunities available in Franklin. If you are willing to ask questions and stay resilient, you can take ownership of your education and set yourself up for success.”

After graduation, Haynes plans to pursue a career in philosophy and academia.