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I am a philosopher of relationships specializing in normative ethics, moral psychology, applied ethics (esp. sexual ethics), and Kant. 
​​Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the Israeli Science Foundation project "Distrust in Science" (PIs: Arnon Keren and Boaz Miller). In October 2026, I will join the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics at Tel Aviv University as a Postdoctoral Fellow.

In my research, I have developed a relational framework to examine the normative structure of human connection, focusing on how these bonds shape practices of trust and consent at both interpersonal and institutional levels. My next project focuses on the political domain, where I investigate how varying layers of distrust destabilize liberal democracies. My research has appeared in venues such as The Philosophical Quarterly, European Journal of Philosophy, Episteme, Kantian Review, and more. You can read more about it here.

Beyond research, I have served in different leadership roles at the American Philosophical Association, I have led the Sexual Ethics Circle and maintain research affiliations with public-facing research networks such as the Center for Positive Sexuality, the Ethical Dating Online Network.
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I got my PhD at Temple University, and a BA and MA at the Hebrew University ofJerusalem.

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​News

• Dissertation  I successfully defended my dissertation, “A Relational Theory of Trust,” in the Department of Philosophy at Temple University. 
• Publication  My paper, "Breaking Trust and Relocating Reactive Attitudes" is now forthcoming in the Episteme. 
• Publication  My paper, "On Moral Perfection: An Atemporal Reading of Kant's Postulate of Immortality" (winner of the 2024-2025 Nordev Prize) is now forthcoming in the European Journal of Philosophy. 
• Blog Post   With the end of my term as Chair of the APA's Graduate Student Council, I've taken time to reflect on my journey to The Blog of the APA.
• ​Publication   My paper, "Navigating Vagueness: Rule-Following and the Scope of Trust" is now forthcoming in The Philosophical Quarterly.
• Fellowship   I was granted a fellowship from the Institute for Humane Studies to support the development of my paper "Breaking Trust and Relocating Reactive Feelings."
• Award & Publication   I was awarded the 2024 NAKS Markus Herz Prize for "Kant on Moral Trust." This paper, now titled "A Kantian Account of Moral Trust", is published in Kantian Review.

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Papers

​Recent and Upcoming Talks

• Apr 2026  “Democratic Betrayal" (w/ Jack Madock) // Trust & Cooperation: Vienna Summer School. University of Vienna
• Apr 2026  “Demystifying Consent" // APA Pacific Divisjackmadock.com/ion Meeting, Symposium. Online
• Feb 2026  “Demystifying Consent" // APA Central Division Meeting, Colloquium. Chicago, IL
• Dec 2025 Title TBA // Liverpool-Oxford-St Andrews Kantian (LOSAK) Research Centre Conference, Commentary. University of Liverpool 
• ​Aug 2025 “Breaking Trust: Relocating Disappointment and Betrayal” // "From Bitterness to Disappointment and Back" Workshop. University of Vienna
• May 2025 “Caring for Valid Sexual Consent” // ScienceAbroard Event. Online ​

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​© Eli Benjamin Israel 2026