Dr. Ali Boyle

Biography

Ali Boyle is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar for the 2024-2026 term. His research primarily focuses on philosophy, cognitive science, and biology, particularly the cognitive capacities of nonhuman minds, including animals and artificial agents. He has extensively investigated episodic memory, a detailed memory of past events, and the implications of this study on understanding the mind. Boyle's recent work questions whether episodic memory is a uniquely human trait and explores the boundaries of self-recognition, self-awareness, and mindreading in nonhuman animals. He is also concerned with the theoretical and methodological issues in the field of animal cognition and the ethical implications of these studies, particularly how knowledge in this area influences people's beliefs and actions toward animals. Additionally, he examines the intersections of philosophy and biology, tackling complex cases in metaphysics involving organisms. Boyle earned his BA, MPhil, and PhD in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge.

Research Interests

Experience