Drew Johnson just joined the GoodAttention project as a postdoc. Drew recently received his PhD from the University of Connecticut. He works in epistemology, metaethics, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind.
In his dissertation, Drew used a Millikan-inspired biosemantic approach to develop a new metaethical theory incorporates aspects of cognitivism and expressivism about the ethical realm. On this view, ethical claims and judgments have the function of modifying behavior so that it varies according to the morally salient features of social situations.
At GoodAttention Drew will be researching natural norms for attention. Taking a functional approach, he investigates what attention does for the creatures that use it that explains why such a capacity has persisted, historically. This work again applies Ruth Millikan's biosemantic theory and her theory of proper function (Millikan 1984). Methodologically, Drew's approach examines instances where attention seems to be going wrong, or not functioning well, as providing insight into what attention is supposed to accomplish when functioning properly. Drew is also interested in exploring the function of attention in moral cognition.
Drew is also interested in self-knowledge and deep disagreement.
Learn more about Drew here. (Drew also has a cat, as you can see)
(some of the text used here is taken from Drew's research description)