Kieran Setiya author photo
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Kieran Setiya

출생: February 07, 1976 – Hull, England, United Kingdom

Kieran Setiya is a British philosopher and MIT professor whose work spans ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of action, often connecting academic ideas to everyday life. He is the author of Midlife: A Philosophical Guide and Life Is Hard, books that brought philosophical reflection on agency, meaning, and difficulty to a broad readership.

전기 및 작가의 여정

Kieran Setiya grew up in Hull, Yorkshire, and has said that his path into philosophy began not in a seminar room but through science fiction and the horror fiction of H. P. Lovecraft, whose stories pushed him toward larger questions about reality, value, and human understanding. He studied philosophy at Jesus College, Cambridge, then completed a Ph.D. at Princeton University in January 2002. After more than a decade at the University of Pittsburgh, he joined MIT in 2014; as of 2024, he has served as head of MIT’s Department of Linguistics and Philosophy and holds the de Florez Professorship. Across that academic career, his central fields have remained ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of action and mind. ((https://news.mit.edu/2015/faculty-profile-kieran-setiya-1113))

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명언

quote
Philosophers ponder the meaning of life
-Philosophers should be keener to talk about the meaning of life
quote
You can be aiming to get things done and have an absence of satisfaction
-How philosophy can solve your midlife crisis
quote
But I do think philosophical reflection can and should help us to live better lives
-How Philosophy Helps Us Find Our Way
quote
One of the most basic lessons of recent work in the philosophy of medicine is the need to take care with words
-Why Disability Isn’t—Or Shouldn’t Be—An Obstacle to Happiness
quote
It’s difficult to argue that something is valuable in itself
-Quadruple Tremolo
quote
Not just philosophy, but philosophers: that is what these notebooks help us to see
-The Personal Is Philosophical
quote
It isn’t memory that makes us who we are
-Lovecraft and Me
quote
These questions bridge theory and practice, moral principle and political strategy
-3 Questions: How philosophy can address the problem of climate change

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Philosophy for a Messy World
학습 계획

Philosophy for a Messy World

In an era of information overload and global instability, traditional thinking patterns often fail us. This plan is designed for curious minds and decision-makers who want to combine cognitive science with practical ethics to navigate modern life with clarity.

1 h 12 m3 섹션
The Philosopher's Guide to Time
학습 계획

The Philosopher's Guide to Time

This guide is designed for high-achievers and thinkers struggling with the modern paradox of being busy yet unfulfilled. It bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and neuroscience to help you reclaim agency over your most finite resource.

1 h 36 m4 섹션
Existentialism
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Existentialism

This plan provides a roadmap for navigating the complexities of modern existence by engaging with the world's most influential thinkers. It is ideal for anyone seeking to build a resilient personal philosophy and find clarity in their own freedom and ethical choices.

5 h 55 m4 섹션
Study philosophy, spirituality & business
학습 계획

Study philosophy, spirituality & business

In an era of burnout and ethical complexity, this plan bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and modern commerce. It is designed for leaders and seekers who want to align their professional success with deep personal meaning and ethical integrity.

4 h 14 m4 섹션
Study history, philosophy, science & the self
학습 계획

Study history, philosophy, science & the self

This plan offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding our place in the universe by bridging the gap between science and the humanities. It is ideal for lifelong learners and deep thinkers seeking to build a rigorous intellectual foundation and a more coherent personal philosophy.

5 h 33 m4 섹션
Philosophy for the Entrepreneurial Pivot
학습 계획

Philosophy for the Entrepreneurial Pivot

This plan is essential for founders who feel disconnected from their 'why' or paralyzed by the lack of data in new markets. It is designed for entrepreneurs seeking a deeper intellectual foundation to guide their strategic shifts and ethical leadership.

2 h 18 m3 섹션
The Science of Self and Social Influence
학습 계획

The Science of Self and Social Influence

This plan bridges the gap between evolutionary biology and modern social psychology to help individuals regain control over their minds. It is ideal for professionals and leaders who want to master their internal emotional state while navigating complex social dynamics.

1 h 12 m3 섹션
The Architecture of Defiance
학습 계획

The Architecture of Defiance

This curriculum is essential for those seeking to understand how high-stakes philosophy translates into lived resistance and psychological resilience. It is ideal for students of literature, political activists, and anyone grappling with the burden of personal freedom in a post-truth world.

1 h 36 m4 섹션

커뮤니티 의견

"Kieran Setiya is both an unusually gifted writer ... the perfect companion for the journey"

Oliver Burkeman

"Kieran Setiya has produced the ultimate handbook of hardship"

Daniel H. Pink

"Life may be hard, but Kieran Setiya shows us better ways to think about it and how, despite everything, that can give us hope"

Katherine May

"In Life Is Hard, Kieran Setiya shows us the gift that philosophy becomes when it removes its mask of impersonality to reveal its human face"

Rebecca Newberger Goldstein

"Kieran Setiya makes the case that philosophy can help us navigate the adversities of human life"

The Guardian

"I found Kieran Setiya's Midlife: A Philosophical Guide both instructive and consoling"

Joshua Ferris

"Kieran Setiya is that rare bird, a philosopher of exceptional ability with the courage to face the deepest questions"

Zena Hitz

"Kieran Setiya argues that certain bracing challenges ... are essentially unavoidable"

The New Yorker

"In this engaging and accessible book, Kieran Setiya explores questions about what we live for"

Richard Moran

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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