Jonathan Livengood

Jonathan Livengood is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. His research centers on foundational questions in scientific methodology, stemming from early engagement with Hume's Enquiry and Peirce's Illustrations of the Logic of Science.

His primary research domains include Experimental Philosophy, Causal Reasoning, Philosophy of Science, and Biomedical Ethics. He investigates the semantics and psychology of causal concepts, normative frameworks for causal inference, and ethical applications in healthcare. Livengood maintains distinctive positions on mathematics as an empirical science and the non-existence of phenomenal consciousness. His work consistently bridges theoretical philosophy with empirical methodology.

Recent publications (2020-2024) reveal a concentrated focus on causal reasoning across diverse contexts: ethical dilemmas like the trolley problem, historical scientific practices such as chromatography, and biomedical applications including informed consent. His research demonstrates methodological innovation by integrating experimental philosophy with formal approaches to probability, induction, and abduction, while critically examining the boundaries between scientific and philosophical reasoning.