Cailin O'Connor

Cailin O'Connor is a Chancellor’s Professor in the Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science at the University of California, Irvine. Her work bridges philosophy of biology, behavioral science, and evolutionary game theory, with a focus on social epistemology, misinformation dynamics, and scientific collaboration. She co-administers NSF grants exploring consensus, democracy, and public science understanding, and has authored influential books including The Misinformation Age and The Origins of Unfairness.

Her research examines how cultural evolution shapes scientific practices, the impact of cognitive biases on group learning, and the structural factors perpetuating epistemic polarization. Notable contributions include modeling epistemic networks, analyzing misinformation spread mechanisms, and investigating the role of moral judgments in risk perception during pandemics.

O'Connor’s work extends to public philosophy, emphasizing accessible discourse on science communication and societal impacts of false beliefs. She has contributed to interdisciplinary initiatives promoting transient diversity in science and interdisciplinarity’s role in advancing methodological rigor.

Her recent projects address platform power in AI content moderation, the dynamics of scientific retraction, and strategies to counteract racial capitalism’s stability. Collaborations with scholars like James Owen Weatherall highlight her commitment to bridging theoretical philosophy with applied social science challenges.