Owen Flanagan

Papers

Total Citations

267

H-Index

About

Owen Flanagan is a leading philosopher of mind and ethics, renowned for his work on consciousness, moral psychology, and the intersection of neuroscience with human values. His research bridges philosophy, psychology, and cognitive science, exploring how conscious experience arises from neural processes and how this understanding informs ethical life. Flanagan’s major contributions include advancing a “naturalized” approach to consciousness, arguing that subjective experience can be studied scientifically without reductionism. His seminal edited volume, *The Nature of Consciousness* (1997), which includes his influential chapter on the “robust phenomenology” of the stream of consciousness, has garnered over 260 citations, shaping debates on the first-person perspective. He is also celebrated for developing the concept of “eudaimonics”—a scientifically grounded ethics of human flourishing—and for his work on the neurobiology of moral emotions. A prolific author, Flanagan’s books like *The Problem of the Soul* and *The Really Hard Problem* have made him a pivotal figure in integrating empirical findings with philosophical inquiry. His impact is evident in his citation record and his role as a James B. Duke Professor at Duke University, where he continues to inspire interdisciplinary research on mind, morality, and meaning.