معرفی
Samuel Asarnow is Associate Professor and Chair of Philosophy at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his PhD from Stanford University in 2015 and his BA from Swarthmore College in 2008. Originally from Portland, Oregon, he is an active researcher in ethics and the philosophy of action.
His educational background includes:
- PhD in Philosophy from Stanford University (2015)
- BA from Swarthmore College (2008)
Professor Asarnow specializes in ethics, metaethics, and the philosophy of action. His research focuses on questions about the metaphysics and ethical significance of human motivation—what it means to have an intention or act for a reason, and whether our intentions and reasons for acting matter morally. He is also interested in the relationship between mind and world, and connections between philosophical ethics and other disciplines including law, medicine, social work, and software engineering. He regularly teaches courses in ethics, metaethics, bioethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of race and gender.
His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on intention, reasons for action, and the philosophy of action. Asarnow has developed and defended the 'Reasoning View,' a comprehensive theory of normative and motivating reasons for action. His work bridges traditional philosophical questions with practical applications across multiple disciplines, showing particular interest in how theoretical frameworks apply to real-world ethical dilemmas.
As an area editor for Ergo focusing on philosophy of action, Asarnow contributes significantly to academic discourse in his field. His upcoming book 'Reasons Last: Agency, Morality, and the Reasoning View' (Oxford University Press, 2025) argues against the 'reasons first' approach in philosophical ethics.
Outside of philosophy, Asarnow enjoys cooking, baking, running, cycling, paddling, skiing, and engaging with Brazilian music. He lives in Minneapolis with his partner, their child, and their dog Maiana. His pronouns are he/him or they/them.
