I'm Chris Ranalli, an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at VU Amsterdam. 

My research is primarily in epistemology. I also work in philosophy of mind and value theory.
​
Recently, I've been researching the applied and ethical dimensions of skepticism, in works like Is Radical Doubt Morally Wrong?, Suspensive Wronging, and Skepticism and Political Conservatism. I'm currently writing a book exploring these themes. You can read about this in my post at New Work in Philosophy.

In philosophy of mind and value theory, my recent work includes The Special Value of Experience, and Knowledge of Things and Aesthetic Testimony. I'm mostly interested in the significance of acquaintance and the value of consciousness.

In social & political epistemology, I'm interested in the social influences on our beliefs. My book The Philosophy of Indoctrination, tackles the nature, epistemology, and political significance of indoctrination and charges of 'indoctrination'. This work develops my Closed-minded Belief & Indoctrination. 

I also enjoy writing philosophy for a broader audience, with essays like True Believers?, 'Indoctrination' as Propaganda, and Erasing Consciousness.

I coordinate our department's Theoretical Philosophy Group. From 2021-2025, I was a core member of the ERC Extreme Beliefs research group, as well as a research affiliate within the DFG Thinking about Suspension network (2021-2025). I'm a board member of the Dutch Research School of Philosophy (OZSW) Theoretical Philosophy chamber.

I studied philosophy at the University of Edinburgh (Ph.D., Philosophy), UC Berkeley and VCU (BA, Philosophy). I've worked at the University of Cologne with the support of an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and at the Instituto de Investigaciones Filosóficas at UNAM in Mexico City. 

contact: c.b.ranalli[at]vu[dot]nl