Michael Brownstein

Michael Brownstein is a Professor of Philosophy at The Graduate Center, CUNY and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He holds the role of MA Director. His research focuses on philosophy of psychology, political psychology, philosophy of science (particularly social science), moral psychology, ethics, climate change, and social change. Brownstein earned his Ph.D. from Penn State University. His work critically examines implicit bias, cognitive architecture, and their ethical implications, with notable contributions to debates about climate ethics, structural vs. individual change, and moral responsibility.

His publications include influential books like The Implicit Mind: Cognitive Architecture, the Self, and Ethics (2018) and articles addressing topics such as the limitations of implicit bias measures, the interplay between individual and systemic change, and the moral dimensions of climate action. He frequently engages with interdisciplinary questions at the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and social science.

• Education: Ph.D., Philosophy, Penn State University
• Affiliations: Graduate Center, CUNY; John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• Key Focus Areas: Implicit cognition, climate ethics, moral psychology, social change mechanisms

Brownstein’s research has been featured in venues like the Journal of Social Philosophy, Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, and WIREs Cognitive Science. He collaborates with scholars such as Anthony Madva and Bertram Gawronski on projects analyzing implicit bias and its societal impacts.