Nicholas Silins

Nicholas Silins is a Professor in the Philosophy Department at Cornell University's Sage School of Philosophy, within the College of Arts and Sciences. He joined Cornell in Fall 2006 after completing a Bersoff Fellowship at New York University. His academic work focuses on epistemology and philosophy of mind, with significant contributions to understanding perception, consciousness, and self-knowledge.

Education:

• D.Phil in Philosophy from Oxford University (2004)
• B.Phil in Philosophy from Oxford University (2001)
• B.A. in Comparative Literature from Princeton University, magna cum laude (1999)

Nicholas Silins' research spans multiple areas within philosophy, with primary focus on epistemology and philosophy of mind. His work on the epistemology of perception examines how perceptual experiences justify beliefs about the external world. He has made significant contributions to debates about higher-order theories of consciousness, the nature of introspection, and the relationship between attention and perceptual justification. His research also extends to cognitive science, aesthetics, and classical Asian philosophy, reflecting a broad interdisciplinary approach that connects Western and Eastern philosophical traditions.

Analysis of Professor Silins' recent publications reveals a consistent focus on foundational questions in epistemology and philosophy of mind. His work frequently addresses the relationship between consciousness, attention, and justification, with a particular interest in how unconscious perception might still provide justification for beliefs. He has made important contributions to debates about cognitive penetration, the structure of perceptual experience, and the epistemology of introspection. His research often bridges traditional philosophical questions with insights from contemporary psychology and cognitive science.

Academic Appointments:

• Professor, Cornell University Sage School of Philosophy (2006-present)
• Associate Professor, Yale-NUS College in Singapore
• Fellow, Centre for Consciousness at the Australian National University
• Bersoff Fellow, New York University

Professor Silins has supervised graduate students working in various areas of philosophy including epistemology, philosophy of mind, and aesthetics. His research has been supported by various academic institutions and has contributed significantly to ongoing debates in contemporary philosophy. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses across his areas of expertise.