Lewis M. Powell

Lewis M. Powell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University at Buffalo, SUNY, where he has served since August 2018 (promoted from Assistant Professor 2012–2018). His academic career includes previous roles as an Assistant Professor at Wayne State University (2011–2012) and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Southern California (2011).

Research Focus: Powell specializes in Early Modern Philosophy and Philosophy of Language, with primary focus on David Hume, John Locke, Thomas Reid, and Adam Smith. His work analyzes historical frameworks for cognition, belief, and language while engaging with contemporary philosophical debates about semantics, epistemology, and metaethics.

Publications & Activities: His research includes publications on Hume's theories of denial, Locke's views on propositions, and comparative analyses of Reid and Hume. He co-founded the group blog The Mod Squad and maintains a personal philosophy blog Horseless Telegraph. His teaching emphasizes structured skill development in historical philosophy.