Eric Schwitzgebel, an esteemed philosopher at the University of California, Riverside, is renowned for his groundbreaking work at the intersection of empirical psychology and philosophy of mind. With a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, under the mentorship of Elisabeth A. Lloyd, Alison Gopnik, and John Searle, Schwitzgebel has become a leading voice in contemporary philosophical discourse.

His research focuses on the behavior of philosophers, particularly ethicists, using empirical methods to explore whether ethicists exhibit heightened ethical conduct. Through seminal studies, including a notable 2009 investigation into the prevalence of ethics books in academic libraries, Schwitzgebel challenges assumptions about the ethical behavior of philosophers.

Contrary to prevailing beliefs, his research reveals that ethicists do not demonstrate significantly different ethical behavior compared to other disciplines. Moreover, he illuminates the susceptibility of moral beliefs among professional philosophers to extraneous influences, prompting a critical reevaluation of ethical thought and behavior.

Eric Schwitzgebel's work continues to inspire interdisciplinary dialogue and reshape our understanding of moral philosophy, underscoring the complex interplay between cognition, social context, and ethical decision-making. As a distinguished academic and prolific author, he leaves an indelible mark on the philosophical landscape, urging us to explore the intricacies of human morality with renewed clarity and insight.

Katrin Preller received her PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience from University of Zurich, Switzerland in 2013. Her research interests are centered around the neuropharmacology of emotional and cognitive processes such as social cognition in health and psychiatric illnesses, as well as (pharmacological) neuroimaging analysis methodology. She is particularly interested in substance use disorders as well the role of the serotonin system in emotion and cognition. To elucidate the role of 5-HT2A/1A receptor functions in human cognition she uses pharmacological challenges mainly with psilocybin and LSD.

Russell Foster is Professor of Circadian Neuroscience and the Head of the Department of Ophthalmology. He is also a Nicholas Kurti Senior Fellow at Brasenose College. Prior to this, Russell was at Imperial College where Russell was Chair of Molecular Neuroscience within the Faculty of Medicine. Russell Foster’s research spans basic and applied circadian and photoreceptor biology.

He received his education at the University of Bristol under the supervision of Professor Sir Brian Follett. from 1988–1995 he was a member of the National Science Foundation Center for Biological Rhythms at the University of Virginia and worked closely with Michael Menaker. In 1995 he returned to the UK and established his group at Imperial College. For his discovery of non-rod, non-cone ocular photoreceptors he has been awarded the Honma prize (Japan), Cogan award (USA), and Zoological Society Scientific & Edride-Green Medals (UK). He is the co-author of “Rhythms of Life” a popular science book on circadian rhythms.