Guy Kahane

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.