Student Spotlight: Migdalia Arcila-Valenzuela
July 14, 2025
Migdalia Arcila-Valenzuela is a doctoral candidate in philosophy from Medellín, Colombia. She earned her B.A. in philosophy and literature from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellín, Colombia, and M.A., magna cum laude, in philosophy from Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia and now studies how praise and pride reflect the values embraced by a given society under the guidance of John M. Doris at Cornell.
What is your area of research and why is it important?
My research integrates an already interdisciplinary approach to ethics, such as moral psychology, into the broader political and cultural framework of Latin American philosophy. My dissertation aims to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how praise and pride, as positive moral attitudes, reflect the values embraced by a given society and, as such, can serve as both instruments of liberation and oppression. I develop new theoretical resources to illuminate underappreciated complexities in seemingly unproblematic moral attitudes such as praise and pride and facilitate the integration of theories in moral psychology into interdisciplinary approaches to specific sociopolitical contexts.
What are the larger implications of this research?
Black and Indigenous attempts to organize, reclaim their political rights, and take pride in their history and struggle is an active way to subvert the values imposed by the ideology of “mestizaje” (race mixing between white Europeans and Indigenous people). This is also why their political struggles for social justice are often labeled as “dangerous,” “arrogant,” and a “threat to public order.” These accusations reflect how the perception of pride is influenced by the hierarchical structures of power in which the agents are immersed. Furthermore, their political struggles for recognition have made evident that praise, far from being a spontaneous individual emotion, is an expression of deep-rooted social values and, as such, can be a mechanism for reinforcing the narratives that sustain oppressive systems.
What does it mean to you to have been named a Robert M. Adams – Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellow?
As a scholar from the Global South and as a philosopher specializing in ethics, moral psychology, and Latin American philosophy, I aim to contribute to the theoretical understanding of the motivations behind social movements in the Global South. Being a Robert M. Adams-Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellow gives me the opportunity to dedicate the necessary time to write a dissertation that can enrich discussions in ethics and moral psychology, a growing discipline that can benefit from an active engagement with the concrete social realities and intellectual traditions from Latin America.
What will this fellowship allow you to do that you might not have otherwise?
The Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellowship will allow me to become part of a vibrant community of scholars committed to advancing new research in ethics, morality, and values across a wide range of disciplines. It offers me the opportunity to go beyond the methodological boundaries of philosophy, opening up new possibilities to enrich my research and connect with an international network of scholars.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of your research or scholarship?
Before coming to the U.S. to pursue my Ph.D., I was a ballet dancer and teacher. I still love dancing and enjoy activities that involve movement, such as yoga and karate. I’m also passionate about music, particularly the history and development of salsa and other Latin American rhythms.
Why did you choose Cornell to pursue your degree?
The Sage School of Philosophy offers one of the best programs in the country for interdisciplinary work in ethics, value theory, and moral psychology.