Michael Arsenault

Dr. Michael Arsenault is a Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Tübingen, affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities. He is also part of the Chair for Cognitive Science in Philosophy (LS für Kognitionswissenschaft). His research focuses on Ancient Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, and Early Modern Philosophy, particularly the works of Descartes. He holds a BA (summa cum laude) in Philosophy and Linguistics from the University of Toronto (2011), an MA in Philosophy from the same university (2013), and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley (2023), with a dissertation titled “Aristotle on the Metaphysics of Sensory Experience”.

His educational journey includes:

• BA in Philosophy and Linguistics, University of Toronto (2011)
• MA in Philosophy, University of Toronto (2013)
• PhD in Philosophy, UC Berkeley (2023)

Research interests span the metaphysics of perception, ancient Greek philosophy (especially Aristotle), Cartesian philosophy, and epistemological issues such as disagreement and hallucination. His work integrates cognitive science perspectives with historical philosophy to explore foundational questions in the philosophy of mind.

His publications demonstrate engagement with both classical and contemporary debates. Recent work includes an accepted peer-reviewed article on Aristotle’s De sensu, while earlier contributions address epistemic disagreement and the epistemology of sensory experience. This reflects a trajectory from modern epistemological puzzles to deepening investigations into ancient philosophical frameworks.

No scientific awards are explicitly listed. His advising activities and grant details are not documented in the provided text. He collaborates with the Cognitive Science Chair in Philosophy, contributing to interdisciplinary research at the intersection of philosophy and mind science.