Massimo Pigliucci

Massimo Pigliucci is an Italian-American philosopher, biologist, and author known for his work across the philosophy of science, evolutionary biology, and modern stoicism. He has held academic positions at several major universities, including the University of Tennessee and the City College of New York. A prominent public intellectual, he is a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and has written extensively for general audiences on science, philosophy, and critical thinking.

Biography

Born in Monrovia, Liberia, he was raised in Rome and completed his initial doctorate in genetics at the University of Ferrara. He later moved to the United States, earning a second PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Connecticut under the mentorship of Douglas Futuyma. His academic journey culminated in a third doctorate, this time in philosophy, from the University of Tennessee, where he studied under the philosopher Michael Ruse. This multidisciplinary foundation shaped his subsequent career, bridging the two cultures of science and the humanities. He became a naturalized American citizen and has been a vocal participant in debates surrounding science and religion, notably engaging with figures like William Lane Craig.

Academic career

His academic career began with postdoctoral research in evolutionary ecology at Brown University and University of North Carolina. He served as a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee for over a decade. In 2009, he transitioned fully to philosophy, joining the City College of New York as a professor in the Department of Philosophy. At CUNY, he was also affiliated with the CUNY Graduate Center. He has held visiting positions at institutions like the University of Sydney and the University of St Andrews. His administrative roles included chairing the University of Tennessee's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and serving as the director of the CUNY Graduate Center's Science and Technology Studies program.

Philosophical work

His philosophical research focuses on the philosophy of biology, particularly the structure of evolutionary theory and the concept of phenotypic plasticity. He has critically examined the Modern Synthesis and advocated for an extended evolutionary synthesis. A significant portion of his work analyzes the relationship between science and pseudoscience, drawing on the demarcation problem as discussed by Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn. In recent years, he has become a leading interpreter of ancient stoicism for modern life, authoring books that apply the teachings of Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius to contemporary ethical and psychological challenges. He regularly participates in major philosophy conferences, including those of the American Philosophical Association.

Public engagement

He is a prolific public intellectual, having written for outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Scientific American. He co-hosts the popular philosophy podcast "The Partially Examined Life" and formerly hosted the "Rationally Speaking" podcast for the New York City Skeptics. As a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, he frequently speaks at events organized by skeptic groups like The Amazing Meeting. He has debated prominent creationists and intelligent design proponents, including William Dembski, and has been a featured speaker at Stoicon, the international stoicism conference. His public lectures often address themes of critical thinking, ethics, and the practical application of philosophy.

Selected publications

His scholarly output includes numerous books and academic papers. Key works in biology and philosophy of science include *Phenotypic Plasticity: Beyond Nature and Nurture* (2001) and *Making Sense of Evolution: The Conceptual Foundations of Evolutionary Biology* (2006, co-authored with Jonathan Kaplan). His writings on critical thinking and skepticism include *Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk* (2010). His influential works on stoicism include *How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life* (2017) and *The Quest for Character: What the Story of Socrates and Alcibiades Teaches Us about Our Search for Good Leaders* (2022). He has also edited volumes such as *Philosophy of Pseudoscience: Reconsidering the Demarcation Problem* (2013) with Maarten Boudry.

Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:American philosophers Category:Italian philosophers Category:Philosophers of science Category:Stoicism Category:Evolutionary biologists Category:City College of New York faculty