Alison Simmons

Alison Simmons is the Samuel H. Wolcott Professor of Philosophy at Harvard University. Her work bridges philosophy, psychology, and ethics, focusing on early modern theories of mind, perception, and the intersection of ethics with computer science education.

• Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (1994)

Her research explores the historical development of theories of mind from antiquity to the early modern period, with a focus on Descartes, Malebranche, Leibniz, and women philosophers like Margaret Cavendish and Anne Conway. She investigates sensory perception, consciousness, and the metaphysical implications of mind-body interaction.

Simmons co-founded Embedded EthiCS, a Harvard initiative integrating ethical reasoning into computer science curricula. Her recent scholarship includes analyses of Cartesian interoception, Leibnizian consciousness, and vitalist monism in early modern thought.

While her papers span topics like sensory epistemology, mental representation, and teleological explanations, they collectively emphasize the practical and theoretical roles of perception in self-preservation and human cognition.