Mercer Times

Ethan Magistro arrived at Princeton University with a well-thumbed copy of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" in his bag and two summers of philosophy camp experience. He was certain about studying philosophy, but by the spring of his first year, he also became captivated by space policy. His journey through Princeton has shown that there is indeed room for a philosopher at the space policy table.

Growing up in Morristown, New Jersey, Magistro recalls having deep discussions with friends about significant ideas. "You know, like whether people are inherently good or bad," he said. "I didn't know then that it was philosophy but it was. It felt important to me." He began his academic exploration with two years of high school philosophy and spent his nights as a child observing the sky and noting satellite movements.

In fall 2019, during his first semester at Princeton, Magistro enrolled in an early modern philosophy class with Daniel Garber, the A. Watson Armour III University Professor of Philosophy. "Every week I went into office hours, guns blazing," Magistro said. He appreciated Garber's engaged manner while also showing him how much more he needed to learn. That spring, Garber allowed him to take his graduate seminar on Spinoza.

Simultaneously, Magistro took an astrophysics class with Christopher Chyba, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor in International Affairs and professor of astrophysical science. This class opened up new possibilities for him as a humanist working in space policy.

During a gap year in 2020-21, he served as Chyba's research assistant and continued this role throughout his time at Princeton. "Being able to connect so closely with all my professors has been the defining part of my Princeton career," he said.

Magistro's senior thesis titled "Eternalism, Ethics and the Spirit of Philosophy" explores eternalism — a concept suggesting that all moments in time are equally real within the universe. Using an analogy of a book where all pages exist simultaneously regardless of which page one is reading, he delves into its ethical implications.

He stated that many philosophers talk about "continuing the project of humanity" and emphasized feeling the weight of suffering across time to prevent future suffering. Outside philosophy, this aligns with what policymakers do: make tough choices considering all aspects of a situation.

"The point of the humanities — and of college — is to ask deep questions," Magistro says. He aims to integrate philosophical understanding into his policy work.

Magistro’s thesis received multiple awards including the Department of Philosophy Class of 1869 Prize for theses in moral or social philosophy and a departmental Tomb Prize for theses in philosophy of time.

His adviser Hans Halvorson praised him saying: "Ethan impressed me from day one... With his focus on space policy, Ethan has found a brilliant solution to one of life’s hardest puzzles: to find the overlap between what the world needs, what you’re good at and what brings you satisfaction."

Despite connections between his thesis and space policy — which he describes as “a very future-oriented field” — Magistro wrote it primarily for philosophical development rather than career preparation.

At Princeton, he also pursued certificates in environmental studies and diplomacy history/practice while serving as editor for the Princeton Legal Journal and residential college adviser for Butler College. As president of the student-led Human Values Forum under faculty mentor Peter Singer’s guidance, weekly dinners with guest philosophers proved transformative.

Last summer brought full circle his childhood fascination when interning at NOAA's Office Of Space Commerce assisting with developing satellite tracking systems.

This fall will see him joining Princeton’s Scholars In The Nation's Service Initiative (SINSI) four-year MPA program offering leadership training/work experience split between Princeton/Washington D.C., fully funded as one among four SINSI fellowship recipients.

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