Michael Raven

Dr. Michael Raven is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Victoria and an Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington. He joined the University of Victoria in 2009 and holds a PhD from New York University. His research focuses on metaphysics, philosophy of logic, philosophy of language, social ontology, and epistemology. He is co-editor of Metaphysics and co-founder of the Metaphysics Collaborative. Raven’s work explores topics such as metaphysical grounding, essence, physicalism, and social essences. His contributions include co-editing the Routledge Handbook of Metaphysical Grounding and Routledge Handbook of Essence in Philosophy.

Education: BA (Reed College), MA and PhD (New York University). His roles include serving as Graduate Advisor in Philosophy at UVic. He is on leave until June 2026. His research interests span metaphysics, epistemology, and social ontology, with a focus on foundational issues like fundamentality, grounding, and the nature of essences.

Raven’s publications address challenges in physicalism, the structure of metaphysical explanations, and the interplay between logic and reality. His work often bridges traditional metaphysical questions with contemporary analytical philosophy. He actively contributes to academic communities through editorial roles and conferences.