'I've published two research papers'

Julian Kanu: Philosophy and Mathematics

5/15/2026

Julian Kanu

Philosophy and Mathematics
Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

What is your main extracurricular activity and why is it important to you?

LOGOS, the philosophy club and journal, is the extracurricular activity to which I am most committed. It is especially meaningful to me because it gives me the opportunity to share my knowledge in philosophy with others. I do this both by delivering talks on a wide range of topics – from the philosophy of fiction to the philosophy of vagueness – and by contributing to the journal we run.

I also value the editorial side of this work. I think it is important for undergraduates not only to improve their writing, but to understand where their reasoning goes wrong. For that reason, I devote significant time to providing detailed feedback, with particular attention to philosophical substance.

What Cornell memory do you treasure the most?

It was 3 a.m. I was in the library studying for a CS exam. I was doing well in the course, but then I had the realization that I didn’t want to do this anymore. Soon after, I decided to switch from engineering CS to philosophy and math. My life – the people I’ve met and the career I’m pursuing – might have been drastically different without that moment.

What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?

I've written (many under review) and published two research papers: one in the International Journal of Philosophy of Religion, examining a prima facie problem with people's ascriptions of praise to God, and another in the Journal of Medical Ethics, examining a solution to a problem for a class of views I call harm-theoretic pro-life (anti-abortion) views.

How have your beliefs or perspectives changed since you first arrived at Cornell?

I used to be a very political person and deeply focused on STEM. Philosophy encouraged me to rethink that orientation. I no longer believe that, given the limited knowledge most people have, we are entitled to hold many political beliefs.

At my core, however, I remain an opinionated person and continue to enjoy moral philosophy. Over time, I realized that I prefer a more humanities-centered approach to inquiry, a shift that was shaped in part by the classes I took at Cornell.

Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series. Read more about the Class of 2026.