DoctorSonam Thakchoe

Dr. Sonam Thakchoe is a Senior Philosophy Lecturer at the University of Tasmania. He received PhD in philosophy from the University of Tasmanian (2003), Masters in Indo-Tibetan philosophy from the Central University of Tibetan Studies (1997). Since his appointment, he has made substantial contributions to the field of philosophical research with seven books and dozens of referred articles, published in some of the leading academic publishers - Oxford University Press, Wisdom Publications, Journal of Philosophy East & West, Journal of Indian philosophy, the Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. Sonam’s initiatives in research and teaching activities have brought significant and positive changes in the UTAS's research, teaching and learning culture. His research specialisation is in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, focusing on Buddhist metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, philosophy of mind, and phenomenology of mindfulness. The Asian philosophy program is now an integral part of the Philosophy’s teaching curriculum and its research methods.

Sonam’s traditional Indo-Tibetan philosophy qualifications, native fluency in the languages necessary for teaching and research in Asian philosophy as well as a deep immersion into Western philosophy furnish him with a unique ability to bring his research projects and teaching practice into productive dialogue with the West, and so bring important trans-cultural communication and interpretation skills to research methodology and teaching practice at UTAS.

Biography

Since his appointment in 2003, Sonam has held positions as Senior Lecturer (2014 onwards) and Lecturer (1998-2005) in Philosophy, University of Tasmania. Sonam received his PhD (2002) from the University of Tasmania and the Acharya (MA equivalent) from the Central University of Tibetan Studies. He has traditional Tibetan research experience and native fluency in the languages essential to the demand of his research projects and teaching activities. He is also well-established in Western philosophy and can bring this project into dialogue with the West, bringing important trans-cultural communication and interpretation skills to research projects. He is an experienced and productive scholar in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist philosophy with a good track record of research, including the preparation of scholarly translations, the philosophical study of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, cross-cultural philosophy that brings together Indian, Tibetan and Western philosophies, and research in the Indian epistemology, ethics and logic. He has good experience in long-term scholarly projects, in team research, and projects involving collaboration with Western colleagues on translation and interpretation. He is also an experienced postgraduate research supervisor with an exemplary completion record. He brings research management, philological, philosophical, and linguistic skills to negotiating and crossing the boundaries between Indo-Tibetan and Western philosophical traditions. He is one of the few Australasian scholars and the only Tibetan philosopher with experience in the study of Indo-Tibetan philosophy and collaboration with Western colleagues.

Sonam is also involved with a wide range of ecumenical and socially engaging services to strengthen the Asian philosophy programs and foster a broader appreciation of Asian thought within the Tasmanian community through school visits, public talks, and leading group discussion/study forums. Sonam is also passionate about forging closer and more rigorous research in bringing together the fruitful impacts of mindfulness cultivation, phenomenology and philosophy.


Memberships
Committee associations

International Association of Buddhist Studies (IABS)
Australasian Association of Buddhist Studies (AABS)
Australasian Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy (ASACP)
American Academy of Religion (AAR)
American Philosophical Association (APA)


International Research Teams

Sonam was a member of the Cowherds: an international research team consisting of academics from the University of Tasmania, the University of Melbourne, the University of Oakland, the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), Smith College (USA), Central Michigan University (USA), Central University of Tibetan Studies (India), Oxford University (UK), and Australian National University.

Sonam was a member of the Yakherds: an international research team consisting of academics from the University of Tasmania, the University of Melbourne, Smith College/Harvard Divinity School (USA), Central University of Tibetan Studies (India), Kathmandu University (Nepal), and the University of California, Santa Barbara (USA) and Temple University (USA)


Administrative expertise

Sonam is the key person at UTAS responsible for teaching and coordinating the Asian philosophy units. Currently, he rotates two units on Asian philosophy and co-teaches first-year philosophy units.