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{{short description|Italian–AmericanAmerican professor of philosophy (born 1964)}}▼
{{distinguish|Pagliacci}}
▲{{short description|Italian–American professor of philosophy (born 1964)}}
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{{Infobox philosopher
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'''Massimo Pigliucci''' ({{IPA-|it|ˈmassimo piʎˈʎuttʃi|lang}}; born January 16, 1964)<ref name=cvitae>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lehman.edu/deanhum/philosophy/platofootnote/PlatoFootnote.org/Plato_files/curriculum%20vitae.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806205926/http://www.lehman.edu/deanhum/philosophy/platofootnote/PlatoFootnote.org/Plato_files/curriculum%20vitae.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-08-06|title=Massimo Pigliucci – Curriculum Vitae}}</ref> is an Italian-American philosopher and biologist who is professor of [[philosophy]] at the [[City College of New York]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/philosophy/|title=Cuny – City College – Philosophy Department|date=2015-07-05|access-date=2014-04-27|archive-date=2020-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820050136/https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/philosophy/|url-status=live}}</ref> former co-host of the ''[[Rationally Speaking Podcast]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rationallyspeakingpodcast.org/|title=Rationally Speaking &#124; Official Podcast of New York City Skeptics – Current Episodes|website=rationallyspeakingpodcast.org|access-date=2014-04-27|archive-date=2010-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128102841/http://www.rationallyspeakingpodcast.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> and former [[editor in chief]] for the online magazine ''[[Scientia Salon]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scientiasalon.wordpress.com/the-editors/|title=Scientia Salon|date=2014-03-18|access-date=2014-04-27|archive-date=2020-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820050141/https://scientiasalon.wordpress.com/the-editors//|url-status=live}}</ref> He is a critic of [[pseudoscience]]<ref name=pseudo-book>{{cite book |title=Philosophy of Pseudoscience: Reconsidering the Demarcation Problem |editor1=Pigliucci, Massimo |editor2=Boudry, Maarten |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pc4OAAAAQBAJ |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0226051963 |access-date=2016-01-27 |archive-date=2021-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416223958/https://books.google.com/books?id=Pc4OAAAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=pseudo-nyt>{{cite news |author=Pigliucci, Massimo |date=10 October 2013 |url=http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/10/the-dangers-of-pseudoscience/ |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=The Dangers of Pseudoscience |access-date=8 November 2013 |archive-date=20 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820050147/https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/10/the-dangers-of-pseudoscience// |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[creationism]],<ref name=denying>{{cite book |author=Pigliucci, Massimo |title=Denying evolution: Creationism, scientism, and the nature of science |location=Sunderland, MA |publisher=Sinauer Associates |year=2002 |url=https://archive.org/details/denyingevolution00mass|url-access=registration |isbn=978-0878936595 }}</ref> and an advocate for [[secularism]] and [[science education]].<ref name=coalition>{{Cite web |url=http://www.secular.org/bios/Massimo_Pigliucci.html |title=Secular Coalition for America Advisory Board Biography |access-date=2010-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122121639/https://www.secular.org/bios/Massimo_Pigliucci.html |archive-date=2015-11-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=nature>{{cite journal |last1=Pigliucci |first1=M. |title=Science and fundamentalism |journal=[[EMBO Reports]] |volume=6 |issue=12 |pages=1106–1109 |year=2005 |doi=10.1038/sj.embor.7400589 |pmid=16319954 |pmc=1369219 }}</ref> His recent work has focused on stoicism.
 
==Biography==
Pigliucci was born in [[Monrovia, Liberia]], and raised in [[Rome, Italy|Rome]].<ref name=cvitae/> He has a doctorate in [[genetics]] from the [[University of Ferrara]], [[Italy]], a PhD in biology from the [[University of Connecticut]], and a PhD in [[philosophy of science]] from the [[University of Tennessee]].<ref name=ShortBio>{{cite web |url=http://www.lehman.edu/deanhum/philosophy/platofootnote/PlatoFootnote.org/Plato_files/bio.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806205207/http://www.lehman.edu/deanhum/philosophy/platofootnote/PlatoFootnote.org/Plato_files/bio.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-08-06 |title=Massimo Pigliucci – Short Bio }}</ref> He is a fellow of the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]] and of the [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]].<ref name=cvitae/>
 
Pigliucci was formerly a professor of [[ecology]] and evolution at [[Stony Brook University]]. He explored [[phenotypic plasticity]], [[genotype]]–environment interactions, [[natural selection]], and the constraints imposed on natural selection by the genetic and developmental makeup of organisms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lehman.edu/deanhum/philosophy/platofootnote/PlatoFootnote.org/Papers.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805080631/http://www.lehman.edu/deanhum/philosophy/platofootnote/PlatoFootnote.org/Papers.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-08-05 |title=Massimo Pigliucci – Selected Papers }}</ref> In 1997, while working at the University of Tennessee, Pigliucci received the [[Theodosius Dobzhansky]] Prize,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.evolutionsociety.org/awards.htm |title=Society for the Study of Evolution – Description of Awards |access-date=2009-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025120243/http://www.evolutionsociety.org/awards.htm |archive-date=2015-10-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref> awarded annually by the [[Society for the Study of Evolution]]<ref name=cvitae/> to recognize the accomplishments and future promise of an outstanding young evolutionary biologist. As a philosopher, Pigliucci is interested in the structure and foundations of [[evolutionary theory]], the [[relationship between science and philosophy]], and the [[relationship between science and religion]].{{r|ShortBio}} He is a proponent of an [[extended evolutionary synthesis]] to unify parts of biology not covered by the [[Modern synthesis (20th century)|"modern synthesis"]] of the 20th century.<ref>Wade, Michael J. (2011). [https://archive.today/20151121173101/http://bioscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/61/5/407.full "The Neo-Modern Synthesis: The Confluence of New Data and Explanatory Concepts"] ''BioScience'' 61: 407–408.</ref>
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Pigliucci has written regularly for ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'' on topics such as [[climate change denial]], [[intelligent design]], [[pseudoscience]], and philosophy.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry |url=http://www.csicop.org/author/massimopigliucci/ |title=Massimo Pigliucci |access-date=2013-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121034426/http://www.csicop.org/author/massimopigliucci/ |archive-date=2015-11-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He has also written for ''[[Philosophy Now]]'' and maintains a blog called "Rationally Speaking".<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://rationallyspeaking.blogspot.com/|title=Rationally Speaking|website=rationallyspeaking.blogspot.com|access-date=2009-06-05|archive-date=2020-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820050149/http://rationallyspeaking.blogspot.com//|url-status=live}}</ref> He has debated "deniers of evolution" ([[young-earth creationists]] and [[intelligent design]] proponents), including young earth creationists [[Duane Gish]] and [[Kent Hovind]] and intelligent design proponents [[William Dembski]] and [[Jonathan Wells (intelligent design advocate)|Jonathan Wells]], on many occasions.<ref name="denying" /><ref>{{cite news | url=http://old.richarddawkins.net/audio/606-evolution-debate-pigliucci-vs-hovind | title=Evolution Debate – Pigliucci vs Hovind | publisher=[[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science]] | date=January 31, 2007 | access-date=2012-12-16 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611133833/http://old.richarddawkins.net/audio/606-evolution-debate-pigliucci-vs-hovind | archive-date=June 11, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CV of William Dembski|url=http://designinference.com/dembski-on-intelligent-design/dembski-curriculum-vitae-resume/|access-date=1 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126235408/http://designinference.com/dembski-on-intelligent-design/dembski-curriculum-vitae-resume/|archive-date=26 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.hoover.org/multimedia/uk/2933961.html | title=Evolution and Intelligent Design: Pigliucci vs Wells | publisher=[[Uncommon Knowledge]] | date=January 14, 2005 | access-date=2008-07-17 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308173157/http://www.hoover.org/multimedia/uk/2933961.html | archive-date=March 8, 2008 }}</ref>
 
His latest podcast Stoic Meditations<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations|title=Stoic Meditations • A podcast on Anchor|website=Anchor|access-date=2020-06-22|archive-date=2020-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820050158/https://anchor.fm/stoicmeditations/|url-status=live}}</ref> consists of readings from the ancient Stoics, followed by his commentary to interpret the reading and put it into context.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whatisstoicism.com/stoicism-resources/7-best-stoicism-podcasts/|title=The Best Stoicism Podcasts|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-date=August 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820050204/https://whatisstoicism.com/stoicism-resources/7-best-stoicism-podcasts//|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:NECSS 2013 - Rationally Speaking Live with Michael Shermer Julia Galef and Massimo Pigliucci.jpg|thumbnail|[[Michael Shermer]], [[Julia Galef]] and Massimo Pigliucci record live at [[NECSS]] 2013]]
 
==Critical thinking and skepticism==
{{for|his views on the [[Search for extraterrestrial intelligence]]|Search for extraterrestrial intelligence#Massimo Pigliucci}}
Pigliucci is an [[atheist]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rationallyspeaking.blogspot.com/2008/08/excommunicated-by-atheists.html |last=Pigliucci |first=Massimo |date=18 August 2008 |title=Excommunicated by the Atheists! |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-date=20 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820050152/http://rationallyspeaking.blogspot.com/2008/08/excommunicated-by-atheists.html/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but does not believe that science necessarily demands atheism, because of two distinctions: that between [[methodological naturalism]] and [[philosophical naturalism]], and that between [[Fact-value distinction|value judgements and matters of fact]]. He believes that many scientists and science educators fail to appreciate these differences.<ref name=nature/> Pigliucci has criticized [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] writers for embracing what he considers to be [[scientism]] (although he largely excludes philosopher [[Daniel Dennett]] from this charge).<ref>{{cite journal |author=Pigliucci, M. |year=2013 |title=New Atheism and the Scientistic Turn in the Atheism Movement |journal=Midwest Studies in Philosophy |volume=37 |number=1 |pages=142–153 |url=http://philpapers.org/archive/PIGNAA.pdf |doi=10.1111/misp.12006 |access-date=2013-12-19 |archive-date=2020-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820050154/https://philpapers.org/archive/PIGNAA.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In a discussion of his book ''Answers for Aristotle: How Science and Philosophy Can Lead Us to a More Meaningful Life'', Pigliucci told [[Skepticality]] podcast host [[Derek Colanduno]], "Aristotle was the first ancient thinker to really take seriously the idea that you need both empirical facts, you need an evidence-based approach to the world and you need to be able to reflect on the meaning of those facts... If you want answers to moral questions then you don't ask the neurobiologist, you don't ask the evolutionary biologist, you ask the philosopher."<ref name=Skepticality>{{cite web|last=Colanduno|first=Derek|author-link=Derek Colanduno|title=Should You Answer Aristotle?|url=http://www.skepticality.com/should-you-answer-aristotle/|work=Skepticality Podcast|publisher=Skeptic Magazine|access-date=14 May 2014|format=Audio|date=13 February 2013|archive-date=20 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820050156/http://www.skepticality.com/should-you-answer-aristotle//|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Pigliucci describes the mission of skeptics, referencing [[Carl Sagan]]'s ''[[The Demon-Haunted World]]'' saying "What skeptics are about is to keep that candle lit and spread it as much as possible".<ref name=skepticzone>{{cite podcast |url=http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/webpage/2010/09 |title=The Skeptic Zone #101 |host=[[Richard Saunders (skeptic)|Richard Saunders]] |date=24 September 2010 |time=32:50 |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=9 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509023030/http://skepticzone.libsyn.com/webpage/2010/09 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pigliucci serves on the board of NYC Skeptics and on the advisory board of the [[Secular Coalition for America]].<ref name=coalition/>
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* {{commons category-inline|Massimo Pigliucci}}
* [{{Official website|https://massimopigliucci.blog/ Massimo Pigliucci – Official website]}}
* [https://thephilosophygarden.substack.com/ The Philosophy Garden: Stoicism and Beyond] - Pigliucci's Substack (active as of December 2, 2024)
* [https://www.patreon.com/m/MassimoPigliucci Massimo Pigliucci's new blog] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620162343/https://www.patreon.com/m/MassimoPigliucci |date=June 20, 2020 }} on Patreon
* [http://www.platofootnote.org/ Plato's Footnote]&nbsp;– One of Pigliucci's former blogs
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