Faculty

Neil Van Leeuwen

Contact Info:
CHAT, room 201
48 Professors Row
Tufts University
Medford, MA 02155

617-627-2874
Email Prof. Van Leeuwen

Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow
Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Psychology, Cognitive Science, Philosophy of Action

Biography

Neil Van Leeuwen started his career in philosophy working on Pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, and ancient Greek philology. But his interests have shifted to contemporary philosophy of mind. His dissertation focused on self-deception and the nature of belief, and his current work is developing a theory of cognitive attitudes, focusing especially on belief and imagining. Neil hasn't left Aristotle completely behind, as he takes an Aristotle-inspired perspective in his recent (2009) paper, "Self-deception won't Make you Happy."

Education:

PhD, Stanford University, Philosophy
MA, Stanford University, Philosophy
M. St., Oxford University, Literae Humaniores, with Distinction
BA, University of Pennsylvania, Classical Studies, summa cum laude

Awards:

Lionel Pearson Fellowship 2000 - 2001
Phi Beta Kappa
Alumni Society Senior Classics Award (University of Pennsylvania)

Publications:

"The Motivational Role of Belief" (2009) Philosophical Papers 38(2), pp. 219-246
"Self-Deception Won’t Make You Happy" (2009) Social Theory and Practice 35(1), pp. 107-132 [invited]
"Finite Rational Self-Deceivers" (2008) Philosophical Studies 139(2), pp. 191-208
"The Product of Self-Deception" (2007) Erkenntnis 67(3), pp. 419-437
"The Spandrels of Self-Deception" (2007) Philosophical Psychology 20(3), pp. 329-348