Debunking Arguments Professors and Supervisors | ApplySharif

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Rudy HirschheimView profile

Professor

University of BernSwitzerland

Rudy Hirschheim is a Professor at the Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship & Information Systems within the E.J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University. He previously held faculty positions at the University of Houston, Templeton College - Oxford, London School of Economics, and McMaster University, with visiting appointments at Monash University, University of New South Wales, University of Bayreuth, University of Jyvaskyla, University of Warwick, and University of Paris-Dauphine. PhD in Information Systems, London School of Economics (1985) MS in Computer Science, University of Toronto (1974) BCom in Business Administration, University of Toronto (1975) His research interests span outsourcing, management of information systems, research methods, and philosophical issues in research. His recent publications focus on agile software development, crowdsourcing, social justice in IT, service-oriented architecture maturity, and theoretical critiques of the IS discipline. He emphasizes methodological rigor and philosophical foundations in information systems research. Key scientific awards include the LEO Award for lifetime achievement (2013), two honorary doctorates (University of Oulu, 2006; University of Bern, 2012), and Fellow status from the Association for Information Systems (2007). He has also received multiple best paper awards and LSU's Rainmaker Award (2012).

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Guy KahaneView profile

Professor

University of OxfordUnited Kingdom

**Guy Kahane** is a **Professor of Moral Philosophy** and **Tutorial Fellow** at Pembroke College, University of Oxford. His primary affiliation is with the **University of Oxford**, specifically within the **Department of Philosophy**, and he serves as **Director of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics**. Kahane holds a D.Phil. and B.Phil. in Philosophy from Oxford University, alongside a B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology from Tel Aviv University. **Research Interests**: His work spans **meta-ethics**, **practical ethics**, **moral psychology**, and **neuroethics**. Key themes include the nature of value, evolutionary debunking arguments, the role of emotions in moral judgment, and applied issues like disability ethics, enhancement, and the moral status of animals. He is renowned for his empirical studies on moral psychology, particularly exploring utilitarianism and sacrificial dilemmas. **Grants & Awards**: He has secured significant funding, including a **Volkswagen Foundation Grant (€400K)** for research on moral intuition and a **Wellcome Trust Award (£190K)** for projects on well-being and consciousness. His work bridges philosophy and empirical science, influencing debates in both academic and public spheres. **Labs/Teams**: Kahane leads the **Oxford Uehiro Centre**, which focuses on applied ethics, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams in neuroscience, psychology, and bioethics. He also directs the **Master of Studies in Practical Ethics** program. **Publications**: Over 100 peer-reviewed articles, including seminal works on utilitarianism, the ethics of human enhancement, and the neuroscience of moral judgment. Notable books include *Enhancing Human Capabilities* (2011) and contributions to debates on the moral significance of evolutionary suffering.

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Hanno SauerView profile

Associate Professor

Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichGermany

Dr. Hanno Sauer is an Associate Professor at Utrecht University's Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, affiliated with the Ethics Institute. His research focuses on normative ethics, metaethics, and moral psychology, with particular attention to moral cognition, debunking arguments, and the nature of moral progress. He leads the ERC-funded project 'The Enemy of the Good: Towards a Theory of Moral Progress' (PROGRESS, 2019–2024). Sauer has authored books on moral judgment, intuition, and moral progress. His work bridges philosophy, cognitive science, and empirical ethics. He has presented widely at international conferences and universities, addressing topics such as moral disagreement, dual-process models, and the role of emotions in moral judgment. Research interests include the psychological foundations of moral cognition, epistemology of moral judgment, and the mechanisms of moral evolution. He critiques dual-process theories and advocates for a moderate rationalist view of moral reasoning. Sauer's recent publications explore moral progress, moral intuitionism, and the ethical implications of cognitive biases like the Knobe Effect.

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Colin MarshallView profile

Associate Professor

University of WashingtonUnited States

Colin Marshall is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Washington, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. He holds a PhD from New York University (2010) and a BA from Reed College (2003). His research focuses on the history of philosophy (particularly Kant and Schopenhauer), ethics, and metaethics. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of German Studies. Education: B.A., Philosophy, Reed College, 2003 Ph.D., New York University, 2010 Research Interests: Marshall specializes in 18th- and 19th-century philosophy, Kantian and Schopenhauerian thought, ethical persuasion, and metaethics. His current book projects include "Ethical Persuasion: How to Change Minds without Lies, Bullshit, or Moral Compromise" (U. Chicago Press) and "Schopenhauer's Guide to a Tolerable Life" (Princeton U. Press). Publications: His work spans edited volumes like "Kant's Fundamental Assumptions" and "Comparative Metaethics" , along with articles on Kantian metaphysics, Schopenhauer's moral philosophy, and the ethics of political persuasion. Affiliations: He contributes to the Program on Ethics, Neuroethics Research Group, and Science, Technology & Society Studies at UW. His work emphasizes bridging historical philosophy with contemporary ethical issues, including climate change advocacy.

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Max Baker-HytchView profile

Lecturer

University of OxfordUnited Kingdom

Max Baker-Hytch is a Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy at Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford, and a member of the Faculty of Philosophy and Faculty of Theology & Religion. He holds a DPhil in Philosophy from Oxford (2014) and has held postdoctoral fellowships at Oxford and the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on epistemology, philosophy of religion, metaphysics, and philosophical theology, particularly the intersection of moral/religious belief aetiology and epistemic significance. He is currently authoring a monograph on divine creation trade-offs related to the problem of evil and divine hiddenness. His teaching includes tutorials on General Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, Knowledge and Reality, and Analytic Philosophy and Christian Theology. Key publications include explorations of near-death experiences' evidential value, critiques of evolutionary debunking arguments, and analyses of natural theology's contemporary landscape. He has also contributed to debates on epistemic externalism, defeatism, and religious diversity's impact on belief justification. His recent book, *God and the Problem of Evidential Ambiguity* (2024), addresses challenges in discerning ultimate reality amid evidential complexity. Baker-Hytch’s work bridges analytic philosophy with theological inquiry, emphasizing methodological clarity and interdisciplinary discourse.

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Angela MendeloviciView profile

Associate Professor

Western UniversityCanada

Angela Mendelovici is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Western Ontario , with a PhD from Princeton University (2010) and a BA from McGill University . She serves as Graduate Program Chair and is a Member of the Rotman Institute of Philosophy . Education: BA, McGill University PhD, Princeton University, 2010 Her research focuses on the intersection of Phenomenal Consciousness and Intentionality , challenging traditional views through her work on Phenomenal Intentionality Theory (PIT) . She argues for a radically internalistic theory of intentionality where mental states' contents are grounded in their phenomenal character. Recent work includes debates on Reliable Misrepresentation , Tracking Theories , and Combination Problems in Panpsychism. She has contributed to major handbooks and journals, often collaborating with David Bourget . Her publications span topics in Philosophy of Perception , Representationalism , and Non-Propositional Intentionality , with a forthcoming chapter in Non-Propositional Intentionality (Oxford University Press).

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Asya PassinskyView profile

Assistant Professor

Central European UniversityHungary

Asya Passinsky is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Central European University in Vienna. Her research focuses on metaphysics, social philosophy, and feminist philosophy, with a particular emphasis on social ontology and the metaphysics of social objects. She holds a PhD from New York University, a BPhil from the University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholarship), and a BA from UC Berkeley. Passinsky's work explores the nature of social entities such as borders, currencies, and institutions through neo-Aristotelian frameworks, addressing issues like social construction, essentialism, and normative grounding. She co-founded the annual Social Metaphysics Workshop and leads the ISOS Mentorship Scheme to support early-career scholars in social ontology. Education: PhD in Philosophy, New York University BPhil in Philosophy, University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholar) BA in Political Economy and Slavic Languages, UC Berkeley Her recent publications examine cryptocurrency ontology, feminist essentialism, and normative hylomorphic theories of social objects. She critiques traditional money theories and advocates for hybrid accounts accommodating digital currencies. Passinsky's hybrid framework integrates material and normative components to explain social object creation and persistence. Awards: Rhodes Scholarship Her current projects include a book on social object metaphysics and collaborative work on feminist metaphysics. She teaches at CEU and previously held positions at UNC Chapel Hill, Dartmouth College, and NYU.

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Christopher CowieView profile

Associate Professor

Durham UniversityUnited Kingdom

Dr Christopher Cowie is an Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Department in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Durham. Previously, he was a graduate student and Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at the University of Cambridge, and held fellowships at Harvard University and Stanford University. His research focuses on metaethics, moral philosophy, epistemology, and the philosophy of science, often addressing topics like paradoxes, biosignatures, and extraterrestrial intelligence. PhD in Philosophy from Princeton University JRF at Cambridge University Fellowships at Harvard and Stanford Cowie's work critically examines moral error theory through arguments from paradoxes, debunking strategies, and nonnaturalist explanations. He also explores epistemic normativity, companions in guilt arguments, and methodological challenges in life detection. His publications include books and articles in leading journals such as Mind , The Journal of Philosophy , and Astrobiology . Recent research trends emphasize interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly between philosophy and astrobiology, as seen in his co-authored work on life detection criteria. Cowie supervises PhD students including Brad Berwin and Charles Coatsworth, and his teaching and supervision reflect his commitment to rigorous philosophical inquiry and mentorship.

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David BourgetView profile

Associate Professor

Western UniversityCanada

David Bourget is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Western University and serves as the Director of the Centre for Digital Philosophy . He holds a PhD from the Australian National University (2010) and a BSc in Computer Science from L'Université Laval (2002). His research focuses on consciousness, intentionality, and digital philosophy , with a special emphasis on the intersection of AI and philosophical inquiry through projects like PhilPapers.org. Education: PhD, Australian National University (2010) BSc, L'Université Laval (2002) Key Research Areas: Philosophy of Mind Philosophy of Language Digital Philosophy Infrastructure Metaphilosophy His recent publications explore topics such as phenomenal intentionality, representationalism, and debunking theories . The Centre for Digital Philosophy , which he leads, maintains major resources like PhilPapers, PhilPeople, and PhilEvents, supported by CFI and ORF grants . He actively collaborates with philosophers like Angela Mendelovici on intentionality and representational theories.

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Alexander Prescott-CouchView profile

Associate Professor

University of OxfordUnited Kingdom

Alexander Prescott-Couch is an Associate Professor and Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy at Lincoln College, University of Oxford. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Harvard University and a B.A. in Philosophy and History from Columbia University (Summa Cum Laude, Salutatorian). His research focuses on the intersection of philosophy of social science, political philosophy, and the history of German philosophy, particularly Nietzsche. He is the author of Deconstructive Genealogy: A Nietzschean Approach to Historical Critique (under contract with Oxford University Press). His academic career includes roles as a Postdoctoral Associate at MIT (2016-2017) and a Law and Philosophy Fellow at the University of Chicago (2015-2016). His work explores genealogical critique, democratic theory, and the ethical implications of historical interpretation. Recent publications include analyses of Nietzsche's genealogy, media's role in democracy, and debates in moral psychology. His articles span journals such as Mind , Analysis , and Noûs , addressing themes like interpretive labor, pragmatic genealogy, and the limits of debunking arguments. His book project reimagines genealogy as a tool for critical historical analysis, blending Nietzschean insights with contemporary philosophical debates.

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Guy KahaneView profile

Associate Professor

Ludwig Maximilian University of MunichGermany

Dr Guy Kahane is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy , University of Oxford, and a faculty member at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics . His research bridges philosophy of neuroscience , moral psychology , metaethics , and applied ethics . Research Interests Kahane explores how neuroscience informs moral judgment, challenges utilitarianism through multidimensional models, and critiques speciesism in moral prioritization. He investigates axiological debates around theism and evolutionary suffering, arguing against simplistic views of cosmic indifference and species-based moral hierarchies. His work includes empirical studies on public perceptions of harm to animals versus humans, co-developing the Oxford Utilitarianism Scale to dissociate moral dimensions. Recent publications focus on individuality, cosmic importance, and historical significance. Notable Contributions Argued that sacrificial dilemmas fail to capture the altruistic core of utilitarianism. Challenged speciesism in moral psychology through cross-species prioritization studies. Developed a framework for understanding the axiological implications of evolution and theism.

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Sandy BoucherView profile

Senior Lecturer

University of New England AustraliaAustralia

Sandy Boucher is a Senior Lecturer in the Philosophy of Science at the University of New England (Australia), affiliated with the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences within the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne, with a thesis titled 'Empiricism, Metaphysical Stances the Philosophy of Biology.' Prior to UNE, he taught at the University of Connecticut, University of Melbourne, and La Trobe University, and worked on the IARPA Critical Thinking and Argument Mapping Project. His research focuses on the philosophy of biology (functions, teleology, units of selection, species, natural kinds, macroevolution, and paleobiology), general philosophy of science (scientific realism), and metaphilosophy/epistemology. He is currently completing a book, Naturalism, Empiricism and the Metaphysics of Biology (Palgrave Macmillan), exploring meta-philosophical stances in biology. He also serves as an Associate Editor of the Australasian Journal of Philosophy . Beyond research, Boucher teaches courses such as PHIL102 Critical Thinking, PHIL304/504 Philosophy of Science, and PHIL509 Sex and Death: Issues in the Philosophy of Biology. He actively supervises PhD students in Philosophy of Science and related areas. His work bridges theoretical philosophy with applied ethics, as seen in collaborative projects on ecological science and digital surveillance. Education: Ph.D., University of Melbourne; M.A. and B.A. (Hons), Monash University Professional Roles: Associate Editor, Australasian Journal of Philosophy ; Co-editor of special issue on surveillance and ethics External Profiles: Google Scholar, Academia.edu, ORCID

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Michael SudduthView profile

Lecturer

San Francisco State UniversityUnited States

Dr. Michael Sudduth is a Lecturer in Philosophy and Religion at San Francisco State University, where he has taught since 2005. Specializing in philosophy of religion, his research spans epistemology, philosophy of science, metaphysics, and the intersection of philosophy with literature and film. He holds a D.Phil. and M.Phil. from the University of Oxford. His academic work critiques empirical arguments for postmortem survival, notably examining reincarnation cases like the James Leininger controversy. He has published influential books, including *A Philosophical Critique of Empirical Arguments for Postmortem Survival* (2015) and *The Reformed Objection to Natural Theology* (2009). His 2021 analysis of the James Leininger case challenges claims of reincarnation, emphasizing methodological flaws and parental influence on child narratives. Beyond academia, Sudduth explores philosophical themes through fiction. His novels, such as *Gel* (2017) and *A Person You May Know*, blend psychological horror with existential questions about identity and consciousness. He maintains the *Cup of Nirvana* blog, discussing Eastern philosophy, film, and survival hypotheses. Recent work includes a 2024 critique of the Bigelow Institute's survival debate and a 2022 debunking of Bruce Leininger's reincarnation claims. He actively engages with parapsychology debates, advocating for rigorous methodological standards in survival research.

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Jonas OlsonView profile

Professor

Stockholm UniversitySweden

Jonas Olson is Professor of Practical Philosophy at Stockholm University and serves as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Humanities for the term 2024-2027. He is based at the Department of Philosophy, with office in room D 720 at Universitetsvägen 10 D. Olson holds significant administrative responsibilities, serving as Chair of the Teacher Proposal Committee and as a member of numerous university committees including the Area Committee for Human Sciences, Faculty Committee for Humanities, Budget Committee, BUGA (Committee for Education at Undergraduate and Advanced Level), HUGO (Working Group for Education and Quality Issues), and RALV (Council for Work Environment and Equal Opportunities). Olson's academic journey includes: Ph.D. in Practical Philosophy, Uppsala University (2005) M.A. in Practical Philosophy, Lund University (2001) University Lecturer in Practical Philosophy, Stockholm University (since 2008) Tutorial Fellow and Departmental Lecturer at University of Oxford (2005-2008) Assistant Lecturer at University of Otago, New Zealand (2004-2005) His research focuses primarily on metaethics, with special emphasis on moral error theory, value theory, and the intersection of moral philosophy with epistemology. Olson's work consistently engages with historical figures including Hume, Brentano, and Moore while addressing contemporary debates in normative ethics. His scholarship demonstrates particular interest in moral nihilism, expressivism, and the metaphysics of reasons, often exploring how historical perspectives inform current metaethical discussions. Analysis of his recent publications reveals continued development of his work on moral error theory, with increasing attention to its practical implications for moral discourse and practice. His writing shows strong engagement with contemporary debates about moral fictionalism, normative certitude, and the relationship between moral and epistemic error theories. Key scholarly contributions include: Author of "Moral Error Theory: History, Critique, Defense" (Oxford University Press, 2014), which received significant attention including a book symposium in Journal of Moral Philosophy Co-editor of "The Oxford Handbook of Value Theory" (2015) Co-editor of "Theories of Justice and Rights, by J. L. Mackie" (2024) Olson leads major research projects including "If Nothing Matters: Normative Nihilism and Its Implications" (funded by the Swedish Research Council since 2020) and "'A Controversy Started of Late': Rationalism and Sentimentalism in 18th Century Metaethics" (funded by the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation from 2014-2017). He serves as Editor of the Library of Theory book series since 2022 and contributes regularly to public discourse through essays in DN Kultur, Flamman, and other media outlets.

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Matthew ScarfoneView profile

Professor

Trent UniversityCanada

Matthew Scarfone is Professor of Philosophy at Trent University, where his teaching and public engagement centre on how moral values are lived out in everyday life. Drawing on philosophy as well as psychology, sociology and anthropology, he explores ethics as a collaborative process shaped by action, choice and relationships. He has also taught previously at the University of Toronto, Carleton University, Texas A&M University, UNC Chapel Hill and McGill University. Research Interests: Professor Scarfone’s work spans normative and meta-ethical questions. His investigations include: Evolutionary debunking arguments in meta-ethics Moral epistemology and the use of Moorean reasoning Bioethical issues, especially the ethics of abortion and reproductive rights Environmental ethics and the moral evaluation of consumer choices such as electric-vehicle adoption The intersection of philosophical theory with empirical findings from psychology and the social sciences Across his recent publications he examines whether evolutionary considerations undermine moral realism, critiques the coherence of selective exceptions in abortion legislation, and challenges popular assumptions about the moral praiseworthiness of environmentally friendly behaviours. Public Philosophy and Media Engagement: Beyond peer-reviewed journals, Scarfone contributes to public discourse through essays in The Conversation and radio interviews on the moral dimensions of everyday choices. Advising, Grants & Awards: No specific information regarding PhD or Master’s students, research grants or scientific awards is present in the provided text. Laboratories and Teams: No laboratory or research group affiliation is mentioned.

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