Matthew Smith

Matthew Smith serves as an Associate Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Northeastern University's College of Social Sciences and Humanities, where he contributes to interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of philosophy and social sciences.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Philosophy, 2004, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

His research spans political theory, moral philosophy, action theory, and jurisprudence with significant extensions into environmental philosophy, health and society, social justice, and wealth inequality. Current projects examine the material foundations of agency and co-author urban political frameworks addressing planetary-scale challenges. His scholarly approach integrates classical philosophical inquiry with contemporary socio-spatial analysis.

Professor Smith's publication "The spatial contract" (2020) establishes foundational work in urban political philosophy, demonstrating how spatial arrangements constitute political relationships in increasingly urbanized contexts. This research exemplifies his broader methodological commitment to bridging theoretical philosophy with concrete political and environmental challenges.

Academic Engagement:

• Teaches Modern Philosophy (PHIL 2330) covering rationalist and empiricist traditions
• Affiliated with Northeastern's Ethics Institute
• Collaborates with colleagues including John Basl (Philosophy), Elizabeth Bucar (Religion), and Patricia Illingworth (Philosophy/Business)