Eric Mandelbaum

Eric Mandelbaum is a Professor of Philosophy at Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY), where he holds the Ruth Printz O'Hara '52 Professorship. He also maintains an appointment at the CUNY Graduate Center Department of Philosophy. His scholarly work bridges philosophy and cognitive science, with a particular focus on the nature of belief, mental representation, and cognitive architecture.

Professor Mandelbaum's primary research interests include Philosophy of Cognitive Science and Philosophy of Mind, with significant contributions to understanding belief systems. His work has developed the influential Spinozan model of belief fixation, which posits that merely contemplating a proposition entails believing it, with rejection requiring a separate, effortful process. He has also advanced a fragmented model of belief storage, challenging the traditional unified web of belief in favor of multiple, context-sensitive belief stores. His research extends to language of thought hypothesis, implicit bias, and the psychological immune system that governs belief change.

Analysis of Mandelbaum's publication record reveals a consistent trajectory of integrating philosophical analysis with empirical findings from psychology and cognitive science. His recent work demonstrates an increasingly interdisciplinary approach, connecting belief science to mental health applications, language processing, and social cognition. A distinctive feature of his scholarship is the development of mechanistic explanations for seemingly incompatible aspects of belief, showing how belief can simultaneously be discerning, credulous, rational, and irrational.

• Ruth Printz O'Hara '52 Professorship

While specific details about Professor Mandelbaum's advising activities are not explicitly documented in the available information, his extensive publication record featuring numerous collaborations suggests active mentorship and research leadership. His work appears to be supported by institutional resources at CUNY, and likely external research grants given the scope and interdisciplinary nature of his investigations into belief systems and cognitive architecture. His frequent co-authorship with researchers across multiple institutions indicates participation in collaborative research networks.

Professor Mandelbaum's research is conducted through collaborative networks spanning philosophy, psychology, and cognitive science disciplines. His frequent co-authorship with scholars like Nicolas Porot, Jake Quilty-Dunn, and others suggests leadership in research teams focused on belief systems, language of thought, and implicit cognition. These collaborations demonstrate his commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that bridge philosophical analysis with empirical cognitive science.