Research Areas

Exploring ideas that shape science, technology and society

The Department of Philosophy at the University at Buffalo has research strengths in areas that connect philosophical theory to real-world problems. Faculty research often crosses disciplinary boundaries, linking philosophy with law, medicine, data science and public policy.

Explore the areas below to learn what each field studies and how students get involved.

  • Applied Ontology
    2/25/26
    How philosophy organizes knowledge for science and technology. Applied ontology studies how concepts are defined, structured and connected so people and systems can share information clearly. At UB, this work links philosophy with data science, artificial intelligence and biomedical informatics to improve how information is organized and can become knowledge that we use in the real world.
  • Artificial Intelligence and Philosophy
    2/25/26
    Thinking critically about intelligent systems and their impact. This area examines what intelligence is, how artificial systems reason and how technologies should be designed and governed. Research connects philosophy with AI, ethics, data and public policy to address questions of responsibility, fairness and automation.
  • Ethics and Applied Ethics
    2/25/26
    Thinking carefully about right and wrong in real-life decisions. Ethics research explores how people should act and how moral values guide decisions in health care, technology, public policy and everyday life. At UB, applied ethics brings philosophical reasoning to real-world dilemmas and professional practice.
  • Formal Methods: Logic, Decision Theory and Game Theory
    2/25/26
    Understanding reasoning, choice and strategic decision making. Logic studies how arguments work, and how ideas can fit together. Decision theory studies how decisions should be made, especially under uncertainty. Game theory considers how we reason strategically, and how individual and social goals can come together or pull apart. This research
  • History of Philosophy
    2/25/26
    Tracing ideas that continue to shape how we think. This area studies philosophical ideas across time, including chinese, early modern and modern traditions. By examining classic texts and debates, researchers uncover the roots of contemporary ideas in ethics, science, politics and culture.
  • Moral Psychology and Social Epistemology
    2/25/26
    How people form beliefs, make moral judgments and learn together. This area studies how emotions, social influences and trust shape moral reasoning and knowledge. Research connects philosophy with psychology and the social sciences to better understand disagreement, misinformation and collective decision making.
  • Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science
    2/25/26
    Understanding how minds think, feel and perceive. Philosophy of mind explores consciousness, perception, emotion and the relationship between mind and brain. At UB, this research bridges philosophy with psychology, neuroscience and cognitive science to better understand human and artificial minds.
  • Philosophy of Science
    2/25/26
    Understanding how scientific knowledge works and why it matters. This area examines how scientific theories, models and evidence shape our understanding of the world. Research connects philosophy with scientific practice, public policy and ethical decision making in science and medicine.
  • Philosophy, Politics and Economics
    2/25/26
    How values, power and incentives shape society. Often called PPE, this area brings together philosophy, political theory and economics to study justice, public policy, institutions and collective decision making. Research focuses on how societies organize themselves and how they could do better.
  • Social and Political Philosophy
    2/25/26
    Examining justice, power and life in society. Social and political philosophy studies rights, authority, freedom and responsibility. Research explores how societies should be organized and how institutions affect equality, democracy and social cooperation.

Research opportunities for students

Students at UB can take part in philosophy research at both the undergraduate and graduate levels through faculty-mentored projects, independent study and interdisciplinary collaborations. Many students discover their research interests through coursework and follow their curiosity into deeper study.

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Philosophy at UB is deeply connected to research across the university. Faculty collaborate with partners in areas such as:

  • Law and social policy
  • Medicine and health sciences
  • Cognitive science and artificial intelligence
  • Environmental research and sustainability
  • Global health and public ethics

Collaborations include work with the School of Law, the Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy, the Humanities Institute, the Cognitive Science Center and university-wide initiatives focused on health, data and sustainability.

Take the next step

Explore philosophy research at UB in more depth:

Learn about undergraduate research
Meet our faculty
See careers in philosophy