Saba Bazargan-Forward

Saba Bazargan-Forward is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego, within the Division of Arts and Humanities. His research lies at the intersection of normative ethics, political philosophy, and applied moral theory, with a strong emphasis on collective action, complicity, and the ethics of war.

His primary research interests include individual accountability for cooperatively committed wrongs, moral coercion, war ethics (particularly defensive violence, proportionality, and civilian immunity), associative duties, and the morality of benefiting from injustice. His work combines rigorous analytical philosophy with practical relevance, often engaging contemporary debates in just war theory and institutional responsibility.

His recent publications reflect a sustained focus on moral responsibility in shared actions and armed conflict. Key themes across his articles include the moral relevance of intentions in joint actions, compensation and necessity in war, and the grounding of ethical principles such as the beneficiary pays principle. His 2022 monograph Authority, Cooperation, and Accountability (Oxford University Press) represents a major contribution to the field of collective moral responsibility.

• Philosopher’s Annual Top Ten Papers of 2014 (for 'Moral Coercion')
• Center for the Humanities Faculty Fellowship Awardee (2013)
• Hellman Fellowship Awardee (2012)

Bazargan-Forward has edited significant volumes including The Routledge Handbook of Collective Responsibility (2020) and Ethics of War (2017). He actively contributes to scholarly discourse through book reviews in top journals and participation in research groups such as the Institute for Practical Ethics at UCSD. While student advising is not explicitly detailed, his editorial and monograph projects suggest a strong mentorship and collaborative role within the philosophical community.