David ChristensenView profile
Professor
David Christensen is a Professor of Philosophy and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Brown University. He holds a B.A. from Hampshire College and a Ph.D. from UCLA. Prior to Brown, he taught at the University of Vermont for 20 years. His research focuses on epistemology, formal and informal, with emphasis on rational belief constraints, evidential support, and epistemic disagreement. Current work explores how rational self-doubt should shape ideal rationality frameworks. Christensen’s notable contributions include Putting Logic in its Place (2004) and co-editing The Epistemology of Disagreement: New Essays (2013). His scholarship bridges formal methods with practical questions about belief revision and peer disagreement. Research interests include: logical constraints on belief, higher-order evidence, epistemic akrasia, and the implications of peer disagreement. He examines how self-aware agents navigate cognitive biases and conflicting evidence while maintaining rational integrity. Recent work emphasizes self-critique mechanisms and the ineliminable role of epistemic rationality. Publications span over 30 years, addressing topics like evidential symmetry, Bayesian epistemology, and the limits of rational reflection. His articles consistently explore foundational questions in epistemology using both formal and conceptual analysis. Christensen’s work is characterized by rigorous argumentation and interdisciplinary engagement with philosophy of science and decision theory. Teaching responsibilities include directing undergraduate studies and courses on epistemology, logic, and philosophy of science. No formal awards are listed, though his academic contributions are widely cited in epistemology literature. Labs/Teams: No specific research groups are mentioned, though his work contributes broadly to collective epistemology and formal methods in philosophy.
