Manuel Vargas

Manuel Vargas is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego. He specializes in moral responsibility, free will, and Latin American philosophy, with a focus on Mexican philosophy and Latinx thought. His research bridges analytic and continental traditions, emphasizing the social dimensions of agency and responsibility under oppression. He has held fellowships at Harvard, Stanford, and the NEH, and co-directs the Mexican Philosophy Lab at UCSD.

Key publications include Building Better Beings (APA Book Prize, 2015) and Mexican Philosophy (forthcoming). His work addresses intersections of philosophy with race, social justice, and ethics. He has led a $1.2M Templeton Foundation project on free will in Latin America and contributes to public philosophy through podcasts and media.

Awards include the APA Book Prize (2015). His grants and collaborations highlight interdisciplinary and global engagement, including co-editing the Oxford Handbook of Moral Psychology. Vargas advocates for philosophy’s practical value, particularly in education and addressing systemic inequities.