Rory Smead

Rory Smead is a Professor of Philosophy and the Ronald L. and Linda A. Rossetti Professor for the Humanities at Northeastern University's Department of Philosophy and Religion. He currently serves as Interim Chair of the department. His research focuses on philosophy of science, philosophy of biology, logic, and game theory, with particular emphasis on the evolution of spite, social behavior in dynamic networks, and symbiotic relationships. Smead holds a Ph.D. in Logic and Philosophy of Science from the University of California, Irvine.

His work bridges evolutionary biology and social sciences, exploring topics like costly harmful behaviors, emergent social structures, and ethical norms through game-theoretic frameworks. He teaches courses such as 'Ethics and Evolutionary Games,' which examines how evolutionary principles inform ethical reasoning. Smead is affiliated with Northeastern's Ethics Institute and has contributed to interdisciplinary research on topics ranging from climate negotiations to cultural evolution.

Notable publications include studies on spite dynamics in fluctuating populations, network-based cooperation, and the evolution of ownership conventions. His research often employs computational models to analyze evolutionary and social processes. While no explicit awards are listed, his contributions to philosophy of science have been recognized through his endowed professorship and academic leadership roles.