Stephanie Leary

Stephanie Leary serves as an Associate Professor at McGill University, conducting foundational research at the intersection of ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. Her work critically examines whether normative properties like goodness are reducible to scientific descriptions and investigates how ethical considerations influence belief formation.

Leary earned her B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Washington (2006-2009) followed by a Ph.D. from Rutgers University (2010-2016). Prior to her current position, she held the Oscar R. Ewing Visiting Assistant Professorship at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Her research program centers on metaethical theory and the ethics of belief, with particular focus on non-naturalism, epistemic encroachment, and practical reasons for belief. Current projects include the SSHRC-funded initiative A Metaphysics First Approach to Metaethics (2025-2030), which seeks to ground metaethical debates in metaphysical analysis.

Analysis of her 2017-2022 publications reveals consistent engagement with pragmatist challenges to evidentialism, systematic exploration of normative reductionism, and innovative connections between moral metaphysics and epistemic justification across journals like Synthese and Philosophy and Phenomenological Research.

Key recognitions include:

• Oscar R. Ewing Visiting Assistant Professorship at Indiana University
• SSHRC Insight Grant (2025-2030) for A Metaphysics First Approach to Metaethics

As Principal Investigator of the SSHRC project, Leary directs a research program integrating metaphysical analysis with metaethical theory. While specific team structures aren't detailed, her collaborative publications (including work with Chris Howard) indicate active scholarly partnerships. She maintains professional presence through her personal website and McGill affiliation.