Matthew Pike

Hi! I’m Matt Pike, a native of Colorado, and I’ve proudly worked at the University of Colorado for over 20 years. I earned my B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Colorado Denver, and my M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Colorado Boulder.

My research interests include epistemology, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, cognitive science, metaphysics, logic, and questions about how to lead a meaningful life. I’ve published work on the nature of the mind and artificial intelligence, and I’ve presented philosophical papers on a wide range of topics, including metaphysical indeterminacy in quantum physics, the nature of time, addiction treatment, martial arts and international relations, ancient and contemporary skepticism, business ethics, and techniques for improving teaching at the university level. My dissertation developed a new theory of justification that integrates traditional work in epistemology and philosophy of science with contemporary research in cognitive science, experimental psychology, and neuroscience. My interest in these fields, and in how our minds learn and operate, strongly informs my teaching methodology.

I’ve taught a wide range of courses, both in person and online, including Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Ethics, Major Social Theories, Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy, Contemporary Social Problems, Philosophy of Religion, Critical Thinking, Introduction to Logic, Symbolic Logic, Investigating Nature, Philosophy of Science, and Philosophy of Science Fiction.

For my teaching, I’ve received the campus-wide CU Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award, the Morriston Teaching Award, the “Best Should Teach” Silver Teaching Award, and the Marinus Smith Award.

Outside of philosophy, I find meaning in spending time in the mountains, reading science fiction and fantasy, and composing, performing, and recording music.