Julia Driver

Julia Driver is Professor of Philosophy at The University of Texas at Austin in the College of Liberal Arts. She received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Johns Hopkins University and has established herself as a leading scholar in ethics with significant contributions to metaethics, normative ethics, and moral psychology.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University

Professor Driver's research explores the intricate relationship between moral judgment, emotional responses, and ethical theory. Her work bridges historical philosophical traditions with contemporary moral challenges, with particular expertise in virtue ethics, moral responsibility, and the role of emotions in ethical reasoning. She has made significant contributions to understanding how normative expectations function in personal relationships and social contexts beyond formal obligations.

Her scholarly output reveals a consistent trajectory toward examining the psychological dimensions of moral judgment and responsibility. Recent work shows increasing engagement with comparative philosophy approaches, particularly in examining moral sentimentalism across different cultural contexts. Her research demonstrates how ethical theory intersects with practical moral life, making her work relevant to both philosophical discourse and real-world ethical challenges.

Scientific Awards:

• NEH Fellowship
• Laurence S. Rockefeller Fellowship at Princeton University
• H.L.A. Hart Fellowship at Oxford University
• Harsanyi Fellowship at ANU

Professor Driver has held significant leadership positions including serving as President of the Central Division of the American Philosophical Association. She previously held a Professorial Fellowship at St. Andrews through CEPPA (Centre for Ethics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs). Her current research projects include a book on moral blame as a response to violations of normative expectations and a comparative philosophy work on moral sentimentalism. She teaches advanced courses in moral philosophy, ethics, and the history of ethical thought, maintaining an active presence in both undergraduate and graduate education at UT Austin.