Can philosophy help us navigate the complexities of identity and the modern world?

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Julian Baggini is a philosopher and journalist dedicated to making complex ideas accessible to a general audience. Through his extensive body of work, he explores themes ranging from personal identity and secular humanism to the philosophy of food, challenging readers to think more clearly about their own lives and beliefs.

Born in 1968 in Folkestone, Julian Baggini has established himself as a prominent public intellectual. After earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Reading University in 1990, he completed his PhD at University College London in 1996, focusing on the philosophy of personal identity. This academic foundation informs his ongoing inquiry into what constitutes the self, a topic he explores by synthesizing philosophical traditions with insights from neuroscience.

Baggini’s influence extends well beyond the academy. In 1997, he co-founded The Philosophers' Magazine, an initiative designed to bring rigorous thought to a broader readership. His career is marked by a commitment to secular humanism, serving as a patron of Humanists UK and advocating for the role of reason in public life. He has held unique roles, including philosopher-in-residence at Wellington College in 2009 and at the White Cliffs of Dover in 2012, where he examined the connection between landscape and national identity.

With over 20 books to his name, Baggini has tackled diverse subjects, from the nature of truth to the ethics of everyday life. His 2018 work, How The World Thinks: A Global History Of Philosophy, was widely praised for its open-hearted approach to cross-cultural thought. As the academic director of the Royal Institute of Philosophy since 2019, he continues to bridge the gap between specialized philosophical discourse and the public, encouraging a more rational and nuanced understanding of our shared human experience.

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