Peter K Unger

Peter K. Unger is a Professor of Philosophy at New York University’s College of Arts & Science, Department of Philosophy. He specializes in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and the philosophy of mind, with a focus on metaphilosophy. His research critiques analytic philosophy’s contributions to concrete realities, emphasizing ‘concretely empty ideas.’ He holds fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities.

Education:

• D.Phil., Philosophy, Oxford University (1966)
• B.A., Philosophy, Swarthmore College (1962)

Research Interests: Unger explores metaphysical issues like free will, physicalism, and personal identity. His work challenges mainstream analytic philosophy’s substantial claims, advocating for parochial ideas. Collaborative experimental psychology research investigates societal values, critiquing prior psychological assumptions and leveraging philosophical thought experiments (e.g., Nozick’s experience machine, Parfit’s cases).

Teaching: Recent courses include undergraduate and graduate metaphysics, ethics, and metaphilosophy seminars (e.g., Metaphysics Fall 2013, Topics in Metaphysics Fall 2015).

Key Contributions:

• Authored influential books: Ignorance: A Case for Scepticism (1975), Living High and Letting Die (1996), and Empty Ideas: A Critique of Analytic Philosophy (2014).
• Advocates that non-scientist philosophers should restrict claims to parochial ideas, given limited capacity for substantial metaphysical insights.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates on experimental psychology studies exploring human values, often deriving hypotheses from philosophical thought experiments.