Wallace R. MacAskill is a contemporary Canadian philosopher specializing in normative ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of rationality. He holds the position of Professor of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Education and Academic Career
- MacAskill earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2002.
- Prior to his appointment at UMass Amherst, he taught at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and held visiting positions at several other institutions.
Research Interests
MacAskill’s research focuses on:
- Virtue ethics and the nature of moral character.
- Moral epistemology, including the epistemic value of moral belief.
- Rationality and its relation to moral decision‑making.
- The philosophical foundations of altruism and effective altruism.
Major Publications
- Moral Courage (Oxford University Press, 2021) – a monograph examining the concept of courage as a moral virtue and its role in ethical behaviour.
- Moral Epistemology (Oxford University Press, 2021) – a comprehensive account of how we acquire and justify moral knowledge.
- Co‑edited volume The Value of Knowledge (Oxford University Press, 2020).
- Numerous peer‑reviewed articles in journals such as Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Ethics, and Analysis.
Professional Service
- Member of editorial boards for journals including Ethics and Philosophical Studies.
- Active participant in conferences related to virtue ethics, moral psychology, and epistemology.
- Engaged with the effective altruism community, contributing philosophical perspectives on charitable giving and moral responsibility.
Public Engagement
MacAskill has contributed to public philosophy forums, podcasts, and popular‑science outlets, discussing topics such as moral courage, rational decision‑making, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.
Affiliations
- Department of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
- Effective Altruism movement (as a consultant and speaker).
Recognition
MacAskill’s work has been cited in academic literature on virtue ethics and moral epistemology and has received attention for its interdisciplinary relevance to psychology, economics, and public policy.
