Chris Howard

Chris Howard is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy within the Faculty of Arts at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. He directs the newly established Philosophy, Technology, and Policy Lab and maintains active research at the intersection of ethics, political philosophy, and digital technologies. Prior to his appointment at McGill, Howard served as a Research Assistant Professor in Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was core faculty in the UNC/Duke Program in Philosophy, Politics & Economics.

His academic background includes:

• PhD in Philosophy from the University of Arizona (2017)
• MA in Philosophy from Brandeis University (2011)
• BA from Wheaton College (2009)
• Visiting Fellow at Harvard University (2017)
• Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University (2019)

Howard's scholarly work spans ethical theory with a pronounced recent focus on the ethical and political dimensions of digital technologies. His research examines the structure and governance of digital spaces, exploring how decentralized approaches to social media and AI can maximize societal benefits while minimizing potential harms. He brings philosophical rigor to questions of normativity, fittingness, and value theory as they apply to emerging technological contexts, bridging traditional philosophical inquiry with contemporary policy challenges.

Analysis of Howard's publication record reveals a thoughtful evolution from foundational work in metaethics and normative theory toward contemporary applications in technology ethics. His early publications focused on fittingness, reasons for belief, and consequentialism, while his more recent work addresses the philosophical challenges posed by digital spaces and decentralized technologies. This trajectory demonstrates a sophisticated integration of traditional philosophical methods with pressing contemporary issues, particularly regarding the ethical governance of AI and social media platforms.

Howard has received significant recognition for his scholarly contributions:

• Marc Sanders Prize in Metaethics for 'The Fundamentality of Fit' (2019)

As Director of the Philosophy, Technology, and Policy Lab, Howard leads interdisciplinary initiatives examining the ethical implications of emerging technologies. He also co-organizes the Chapel Hill Normativity Workshop with Alex Worsnip and Maggie Shea, fostering scholarly exchange on questions of value and normativity. His work bridges theoretical philosophy with practical policy considerations, particularly regarding how decentralized approaches to technology can preserve democratic values while enabling innovation in digital spaces.