Dr. Jonathan Birch

Professor

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Biography

Jonathan Birch is a Professor of Philosophy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he also serves as the inaugural Director of the Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience. His research primarily focuses on the philosophical aspects of animal sentience, cognition, welfare, evolution, altruism, and social behavior. Birch has published extensively in major philosophical and scientific journals, including Nature Medicine, Current Biology, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, and Biological Reviews. He is known for his work on the philosophical foundations of social evolution theory, having authored the book 'Philosophy of Social Evolution' published by Oxford University Press in 2017, and is set to release another book titled 'Edge of Sentience: Risk and Precaution for Humans, Animals, and AI' in 2024. As the Principal Investigator of the Foundations of Animal Sentience project, he explores the criteria for attributing sentience to non-human animals. In 2021, he led a significant review of scientific evidence regarding the sentience of certain marine invertebrates, contributing to the UK Government’s Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act of 2022. Birch's interdisciplinary work bridges philosophy with various fields including veterinary medicine, neuroscience, and AI, aiming to provide guidance to policymakers and ethical frameworks for animal advocacy and AI design.

Research Interests

Requirements for London School of Economics and Political Science

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:6.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in a relevant social science discipline
Application Checklist
  • Transcripts
  • Statement of Academic Purpose
  • Two academic references
  • CV
Specialization Notes

Standard English requirement applies to most programs in Geography, Anthropology, Sociology, and Media.