Research

Publications on PhilPeople.

I work on a lot of different topics, including the limits of what is possible, the structure of space and time, parts and wholes, things and their properties, evidence, belief, and action. I am currently working on issues in decision theory and ethics involving large and infinite numbers, as well as normative uncertainty. Much of my work applies technical tools to traditional philosophical questions.

Teaching

I regularly teach Probability and Rational Choice (PHIL 258g), which is about living with uncertainty, making choices, and working together, using tools from philosophy, psychology, math, and economics.

I also regularly teach The Limits of Logic (PHIL 450), which is about the limits of what can be said, proven, calculated, or counted. We study deep human discoveries about the infinite and the indescribable. If you’ve taken intro logic (or suitable courses in math, computer science, or linguistics) and you’re interested in taking 450, contact me. (The official prerequisite can be waived.)

I’ve been working on a textbook for this class. Here’s a draft.

I also teach graduate seminars and undergraduate classes in metaphysics, epistemology, decision theory, philosophy of religion, philosophy of language, and philosophy of math.

Fall 2022

• The Limits of Logic

Past Courses

• Probability and Rational Choice (PHIL 258g, Fall 2021)
• The End of the World (GESM 120g, Spring 2021)
• Probability and Rational Choice (PHIL 258g, Spring 2021)
• Seminar in Epistemology: Puzzles and Models (with John Hawthorne, PHIL 570, Spring 2020)
• Probability and Rational Choice (PHIL 258g, Fall 2019)
• The Limits of Logic (PHIL 450, Fall 2019)
• Probability and Rational Choice (PHIL 258g, Spring 2019)
• Philosophy of Religion (PHIL 361, Spring 2019)
• The Limits of Logic (PHIL 450, Fall 2018)
• Minds and Machines: The Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence (GESM 120, Spring 2017)
• The Limits of Logic (PHIL 450, Spring 2017)
• Identity Confusion (Seminar in Philosophical Logic, with Andrew Bacon, Fall 2016)
• Seminar in Metaphysics (with Shieva Kleinschmidt, Spring 2016)
• Logic 450: The Limits of Logic (Fall 2015)
• Philosophy of Religion (Spring 2014)
• The Limits of Logic (Fall 2014)
• Seminar on the Epistemology and Metaphysics of Time and Space (Fall 2014)
• Frege’s Foundations of Arithmetic (Trinity 2014)

Placement

I am currently the chair of our department’s job placement committee (after many years of incredible work by Mark Schroeder). USC Philosophy has a strong track record of helping our PhD students find jobs. Here are a few things that may be useful.

• General information about USC’s job placement process
• Advice for job market materials

Here are some places philosophy jobs are posted. (If you know of other good places to look that aren’t listed here, please let me know!)

• PhilJobs
• Academic Jobs Online
• The Chronicle of Higher Education Jobs

Contact Me

jeff.russell@usc.edu

University of Southern California, School of Philosophy

Office Hours (Fall 2022)