Ryan Muldoon

Ryan Muldoon is a Professor of Philosophy at the University at Buffalo (SUNY), affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. He directs the Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics (PPE) Program. His academic journey includes roles as Senior Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's PPE program and a World Bank Core Author for its 2015 World Development Report.

Education: PhD in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. Specializations include PPE, social/political philosophy, philosophy of science, epistemology, and ethics. His research focuses on New Diversity Theory, emphasizing diversity, dynamism, and discovery as foundational to social and political systems. He employs interdisciplinary methods from PPE to analyze issues like democratic institutions, epistemic landscapes, and normative ethics.

Research highlights include his 2016 book Social Contract Theory for a Diverse World: Beyond Tolerance, which critiques traditional tolerance frameworks and proposes a novel approach prioritizing dynamic societal interactions. His work has been featured in outlets like the World Bank and Routledge, and he serves as editor for the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics book series from Oxford University Press.

Notable collaborations include co-authoring the World Bank's flagship report and contributing to projects like the Niskanen Conversation. Media engagements include APA's Early Career Spotlight and op-eds on technology governance and democratic trust.

Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary research networks combining philosophy with economics, political science, and cognitive science. His work bridges theoretical philosophy with practical policy analysis, particularly in development contexts and institutional design.