Elaine Yoshikawa
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Phone: 480-727-1526
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College of Integrative Sciences and Arts 251T Santa Catalina Hall 7271 E. Sonoran Arroyo Mall MESA, AZ 85212
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Mail code: 2780Campus: Poly
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Elaine Yoshikawa received her undergraduate education at University of California, Berkeley, and later received her master's and doctoral degrees in philosophy from Arizona State University. Her area of specialization is ethics, specifically philosophy of happiness, virtue ethics and moral psychology. Her dissertation topic examined shame and self-transformation.
She also has keen interest in psychology (graduate coursework at ASU and California Institute of Integral Studies), music (piano performance, Eastman School of Music and Mannes College of Music), religious studies (Christian ethics and Buddhist ethics), and computer science.
Yoshikawa was a computer programmer and systems analyst for five years at which time she was interested in Artificial Intelligence (AI), computer technology, and issues in philosophy of science, particularly philosophy of physics.
She has been a lecturer in philosophy at ASU since 2009, and have given numerous interviews, presentations, and talks on various topics such as: happiness, virtue ethics, Christian and Buddhist ethics, business ethics, authenticity and spirituality.
- Ph.D. Philosophy, Arizona State University
- M.A. Philosophy, Arizona State University
- B.A. Philosophy, University of California-Berkeley
- Graduate coursework. Psychology: California Institute of Integral Studies
- Piano Performance Major: Eastman School of Music, Mannes College of Music
Ethics: Philosophy of Happiness, Virtue Ethics, Spirituality, Christian Ethics, Buddhist Ethics, Authenticity
Moral Psychology: Compassion, Unconditional Love, Shame, Guilt, Forgiveness, Self-actualization
Articles:
"Joy, Philosophy, and Student Engagement," chapter in Teach Philosophy with a Sense of Humor, ed.Kishor Vaidya, (Curious Academic Publishing, 2021).
“A Reminder of our Sacred Present Moment” (2017) Soul Space: Annual Publication of the Happiness Institute, Tavleen Foundation, India.
“Meditation and Peace of Mind” (2008) Global Thinking Women Magazine, Tempe, Arizona. August Issue
“Spiritual Rejuvenation through Prayer” (2008) Global Thinking Women Magazine, Tempe, Arizona. September Issue
“Discovering Treasures Within” (2008) Global Thinking Women Magazine, Tempe, Arizona. October Issue
“Living Gratitude: An Attitude of Unconditional Love” (2008) Global Thinking Women Magazine, Tempe, Arizona. November Issue
“Generosity: The Art of Selfless Giving” (2008) Global Thinking Women Magazine, Tempe, Arizona. December Issue
“The Transition from Old to New” (2009) Global Thinking Women Magazine, Tempe, Arizona. January Issue
"Instructional Model for Teaching Critical Thinking," co-author Barry Leshowitz, (1996) Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines, vol. XV, no. 3.
Books:
Philosophy of Happiness: Seeking Wisdom and a Life of Human Flourishing. Cognella, 2024.
Awakening in God's Heart. Sojourn Publishing, 2016.
The Shift Journey: Spirituality, Virtues, and Unconditional Love. Sojourn Publishing, 2015.
Courses
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 314 | Philosophy of Science |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 314 | Philosophy of Science |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2023 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 314 | Philosophy of Science |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 314 | Philosophy of Science |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
2021 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 314 | Philosophy of Science |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 101 | Introduction to Philosophy |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 314 | Philosophy of Science |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
2020 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2020 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 314 | Philosophy of Science |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 101 | Introduction to Philosophy |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
2019 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHI 101 | Introduction to Philosophy |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 306 | Applied Ethics |
| PHI 314 | Philosophy of Science |
| PHI 326 | Philosophy of Happiness |
Speaker: ASU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Tempe, Fall 2013
Topic: Marx and Alienation
Topic: Buddhism and Right Livelihood
Topic: Friedrich Nietzsche on Mastering Life
Topic: David Hume on Happiness
Speaker: ASU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Tempe, Spring 2013
Topic: A Life of Human Flourishing
Topic: Forgiveness and Altruism
Topic: Achievement and Success
Topic: Happiness and the Mind
Speaker: ASU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Scottsdale, Spring 2012
Topic: Forgiveness and Altruism
Speaker: Rotary Club, Scottsdale, October 2010
Topic: “Virtue Ethics: Excellence in Business”
Speaker: ASU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Mesa, December 2008
Topic: “Happiness, Virtue and Love”
Speaker: Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Tempe, September 2008
Topic: “The Three Stages of Love”
Speaker: Unitarian Universalist Church, Glendale, July 2008
Topic: “Happiness, Virtue, and Love”
Speaker: Spirit of the Senses, Cultural Arts Group Phoenix, April 2008
Topic: “Happiness and Virtue”
Speaker: Oasis, Scottsdale, September 2005
Topic: “Virtue, Authenticity, and Happiness”
Speaker: Spirit of the Senses, Cultural Arts Group, Phoenix, November 2004
Topic: “Virtue, Happiness, and Human Nature”
Facilitator: President’s Community Enrichment Program, Paradise Valley
Topic: “Forgiveness” October 2003
American Philosophy Association
American Association of Philosophy Teachers
Academic Committees and Service:
2017 Humanities Program Coordinator Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Unit (CISA)
2016 Faculty Annual Review Committee for Contract Faculty (IHC Unit) 2015 University Hearing Board (University)
2014 University Hearing Board (University)
2014 Faculty Annual Review Committee for Contract Faculty (IHC Unit)
2011 Chair, Faculty Annual Review Committee for Contract Faculty (IHC Unit)
2010 Search Committee (School of Letters and Sciences-Downtown)
2010 Faculty Annual Review Committee for Contract Faculty (IHC Unit)
Textbook Reviews:
Exploring Ethics by Steven Cahn, Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2017
Logic, 3rd edition by Stan Baronett, Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2015
The Art of Reasoning by David Kelley, Publisher: W. W. Norton Publishing, 2015
A Concise Introduction to Logic by Patrick Hurley, Cengage Learning, 2015
Applied Ethics: Classic and New Voices by Shari Collins, Bertha Alvarez Manninen, et al., Publisher: Broadview, 2014
Disputed Morals Issues by Mark Timmons, Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2013
The Art of Reasoning by David Kelley, Publisher: W. W. Norton Publishing, 2012
Community Presentations:
Speaker: ASU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Tempe, Fall 2013 Topics: Marx and Alienation, Buddhism and Right Livelihood, Friedrich Nietzsche on Mastering Life, David Hume on Happiness
Speaker: ASU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Tempe, Spring 2013 Topics: A Life of Human Flourishing, Forgiveness and Altruism, Achievement and Success, Happiness and the Mind,
Speaker: ASU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Scottsdale, Spring 2012 Topic: Forgiveness and Altruism
Speaker: Rotary Club, Scottsdale, October 2010 Topic: “Virtue Ethics: Excellence in Business”
Interviews;
Unity Online Radio Network: January 2016 The Call of Spirit – book interview with Rev. Evelyn Foreman
Health and Wellness Radio Show: February 2016 Book interview with Lynnis Mullins
NBC News 12 (local): August 2015 PHI 326 Philosophy of Happiness interview
Alaskan In-Flight Magazine: July 2015 PHI326 Philosophy of Happiness interview
Programmer/Systems Analyst: Information Access Company, Foster City, CA: Maintain, develop, and modify Management Information System; Design, develop and implement Company Marketing System (Co-project leader); Design and develop Artificial Intelligence Indexing System
Senior Programmer/Systems Analyst: Omega Systems, Scottsdale, AZ: Maintain and modify Legal Accounts Software System; Design, develop, and implement Graphics Supplement; Database conversions