Research Overview

I work in Normative Ethics, Metaethics, Political Philosophy and the Philosophy of Mind.

I write about Utilitarianism, the rationality of cooperation (especially in political contexts), realism and objectivity in ethics, the role of empathy in moral, social and political life, and the nature of pleasure and pain.

Handouts

PPE Handout – Empathy, Rational Polarisation, and Epistemic Democracy

Papers

“Practical Reason, Sympathy and Reactive Attitudes” – Nous, 2017
“Non-Naturalist Moral Realism and the Limits of Rational Reflection” – Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 2018
“Immoral Realism” – Philosophical Studies, 2019
“‘More of Me! Less of Me’ – Reflective Imperativism about Affective Phenomenal Content” (with Luca Barlassina) – Mind, 2019
“Utility Cascades” – Analysis, 2020
“Loopy Regulations: The Motivational Profile of Affective Phenomenology” (with Luca Barlassina) – Philosophical Topics, 2021
“Doing Our ‘Best’? Utilitarianism, Rationality and The Altruist’s Dilemma” – Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society [forthcoming, penultimate version]
“Propaganda and Moral Persuasion” (with Simone Gubler) – CL Stevenson on Emotivism, edited by Rachel Handley (Palgrave Macmillan) [forthcoming, penultimate version]

“Normative Authority” (with Caroline Arruda) – Philosophy Compass [invited, in progress]

“Terrestrial Ethics” – under review
“Yes We Can! Optimism, Cooperation, and the Rationality of Collectively Self-Fulfilling Beliefs” – under review
“Increasing Marginal Utility, or, How to Plan a Bus Route” – under review
“Team Reasons and Utilitarianism” – under review
“Jam Tomorrow and the New Repugnant Conclusion: Puzzles for Longtermism” – under review
“Empathy for Avatars: Social Media, Political Dysfunction, and Empathic Cues” – draft

Extra-Curricular Research

I care a lot about food, and when I’m not writing philosophy or teaching, I am engaged in epic pursuit of the most delicious mapo tofu. I’ve come close on a couple of occasions (see below), but have yet to attain the ideal.