Peter Boghossian, born on July twenty-fifth, nineteen sixty-six, is a prominent American philosopher and educator known for his innovative approaches to critical thinking and pedagogy. He served as an assistant professor of philosophy at Portland State University for a decade, where he focused on atheism, scientific skepticism, and the Socratic method.
As an author, Boghossian has made significant contributions to philosophical literature, including his notable works, A Manual for Creating Atheists and How to Have Impossible Conversations: A Very Practical Guide, co-authored with James A. Lindsay. His writings emphasize the importance of dialogue and understanding in addressing deeply held beliefs.
Boghossian gained widespread attention for his involvement in the grievance studies affair, also referred to as 'Sokal Squared.' This controversial project, conducted alongside collaborators James A. Lindsay and Helen Pluckrose, involved submitting fictitious papers to academic journals to challenge the peer-review process in gender studies and related fields. The initiative sparked a heated debate, drawing both acclaim and criticism regarding its ethical implications.
In September twenty twenty-one, after facing harassment and restrictions on his academic work, Boghossian resigned from Portland State University, citing a lack of intellectual freedom. He is also credited with coining the term 'street epistemology,' which describes a set of conversational techniques aimed at exploring and questioning strongly held beliefs in a respectful and non-confrontational manner.