Brian Epstein

Brian Epstein is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Tufts University, affiliated with the School of Arts and Sciences. He holds a PhD from Stanford University, an MSt from the University of Oxford, and an AB from Princeton University. His research focuses on social ontology, exploring the metaphysical foundations of social entities like groups, institutions, and artifacts. Epstein challenges traditional individualist frameworks in social theory, advocating for a pluralistic approach that distinguishes between 'grounding' and 'anchoring' in explaining social facts.

Epstein’s work includes the influential book *The Ant Trap* (2015), which critiques methodological individualism and redefines collective agency. His research extends to philosophy of language, metaphysics, and interdisciplinary social science methodology. He has taught courses on metaphysics, philosophy of social science, and logic at Tufts. Epstein’s awards include the 2016 Lakatos Award and the APA Joseph B. Gittler Award. Beyond academia, he engages in music production and photography.