Profiles
Graham Wood

Graham Wood
Lecturer, Philosophy
Room L120 , Arts Building
Dr Graham Wood is a philosopher in the School of Humanities located in Launceston. His areas of research include Moral Psychology, Cognitive Science of Religion, and Environmental Philosophy.
View Graham's YouTube channel.
Biography
Graham has worked as a philosopher at the University of Tasmania since 2006.
Career summary
Qualifications
Degree | Title of Thesis | University | Country | Awarded |
---|---|---|---|---|
PhD | The fine-tuning of the universe: a philosophical analysis | University of Tasmania | Australia | 2005 |
Grad. Dip. Env. St. (Hons) | Taoism and the environmental crisis | University of Tasmania | Australia | 1991 |
BA | University of New South Wales | Australia | 1990 |
Teaching
Teaching expertise
- Moral Philosophy
- Environmental Philosophy
- Sustainability Studies
Teaching responsibility
- Introductory Philosophy: Moral and Political Philosophy (HPH104)
- Engaging with Sustainability (HUM111)
- Humans: Earthshapers (XBR112)
- Systems Thinking (KGA207)
Research Invitations
Visitor: Discipline of Psychology within the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, U.K., (Feb – Jun 2017).
Academic Visitor: New Insights and Directions for Religious Epistemology at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford, Oxford, U.K., (Jan – Feb 2015).
Visiting Associate: Department of Philosophy, Macquarie University, Sydney, (May – June 2011).
Academic Visitor: Science and Religious Conflict Project at the James Martin 21st Century School Program on Ethics and the New Biosciences, and the Centre for Neuroethics, Oxford, (Jan – Mar 2011).
View more on Dr Graham Wood in WARP
Expertise
Graham's research concerns the relationship between human values and a scientific understanding of the human condition. He examines this relationship within three realms: environmental philosophy, cognitive science of religion, and moral psychology. In his research environmental, religious, and moral values are examined using insights from philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and evolutionary psychology.
Collaboration
Graham’s collaborations include a number of projects with researchers from both the Blue Economy CRC and the Centre for Marine Socioecology. Click on the Funding tab above for more information about funded projects.
Current projects
The Patchwork Mind. This research project develops an account of ‘belief’, based on the assumption that distinct evolutionary pressures have produced several distinct cognitive systems that each generate distinct types of ‘belief’. The account uses the function of beliefs to demarcate distinct categories of belief within the larger folk psychological category ‘belief’. It assumes that categories of belief, such as ‘predictive belief’ (including scientific belief), ‘co-operative belief’ (including moral and religious beliefs) and ‘communicative belief’ (including linguistic beliefs) can be understood ‘third personally’ in this way (even though this is not obvious from a ‘first personal’ perspective). This account does not preclude the existence of other categories, but these three categories are examined because they are likely to exist due to the evolutionary importance of prediction, cooperation, and communication. This project assumes, and builds on, Sellars’ distinction between the manifest and scientific images and takes Quine’s web of belief (as he applies it to prediction) and applies it to cooperation and communication. For a paper on this see ‘Do religious beliefs have a place within an ‘epistemically naturalized’ cognitive system?’Sophia 56 (4) 2017, pp. 539–556.
Belief in Objective Value: a modular account. This research develops an account of belief in objective moral values using the concept of mental modularity in the context of dual process theories of cognition. Introspection often seems to reveal that the prescriptive force of one's own moral judgements comes from the underlying 'objectivity' of values relevant to those judgements. This research examines the cognitive architecture of the human mind that may be responsible for generating such beliefs about the objectivity of moral values. For a paper on this see 'On the perceived objectivity of some moral beliefs', Philosophical Psychology, 33, (1) 2020 pp. 23-41.
Representations recorded in ancient religious narratives of the evolution of human self-consciousness. This research develops an account of the cultural and biological evolution of the concept of the 'self' and/or the evolution of self-consciousness (with particular reference to moral consciousness) within the human species. The research applies insights from evolutionary psychology and cultural evolutionary theory to 'origin narratives' within ancient religious texts (e.g., the biblical account of the fall in Genesis 2-3). For a presentation on this see – ‘The ‘Fall’ and the rise of ‘self-consciousness’.
Environmental Philosophy. I am involved in a number of research projects that examine philosophical questions in the context of human – environment interactions, for example, in relation to human interaction with the ocean.
Fields of Research
- Environmental philosophy (500304)
- Psychology of religion (520504)
Research Objectives
- Expanding knowledge in philosophy and religious studies (280119)
- Expanding knowledge in psychology (280121)
- Environmental ethics (130303)
Publications
Graham's pre-2008 publications focused on the philosophical dimensions of the debate concerning the 'fine-tuning of the universe'. Since 2008 the focus of his publication history has shifted to his current research interests of Moral Psychology, Cognitive Science of Religion, and Environmental Philosophy.
Total publications
19
Highlighted publications
(5 outputs)Year | Type | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Journal Article | Wood G, 'On the perceived objectivity of some moral beliefs', Philosophical Psychology, 33, (1) pp. 23-41. ISSN 0951-5089 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/09515089.2019.1696454 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 1 | |
2019 | Chapter in Book | Wood G, 'Method: Atheism', Theism and Atheism: Opposing Arguments in Philosophy, Macmillan Reference USA, JW Koterski and G Oppy (ed), United States, pp. 49-63. ISBN 9780028664460 (2019) [Research Book Chapter] | |
2017 | Journal Article | Wood G, 'Do religious beliefs have a place within an 'epistemically naturalized' cognitive system?', Sophia, 56, (4) pp. 539-556. ISSN 0038-1527 (2017) [Refereed Article] | |
2014 | Chapter in Book | Wood G, 'Understanding person' talk: when is it appropriate to think in terms of persons?', The Roots of religion: Exploring the Cognitive Science of Religion, Ashgate, R, Trigg and J, Barrett (ed), United Kingdom, pp. 91-112. ISBN 9781472427311 (2014) [Research Book Chapter] | |
2013 | Chapter in Book | Wood G, 'The Rationality of Heuristic Religious Belief', A New Science of Religion, Routledge, GW Dawes and J Maclaurin (ed), Abingdon, pp. 189-204. ISBN 9780415635851 (2013) [Research Book Chapter] |
Journal Article
(10 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2021 | Kelly R, Evans K, Alexander K, Bettiol S, Corney S, et al., 'Connecting to the oceans: supporting ocean literacy and public engagement', Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 32 pp. 123-143. ISSN 0960-3166 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s11160-020-09625-9 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 20 Co-authors: Kelly R; Alexander K; Bettiol S; Corney S; Cullen-Knox C; Cvitanovic C; de Salas K; Emad GR; Fullbrook LR; Garcia C; Ling S; MacLeod C; Meyer A; Murunga M; Nash KL; Norris K; Oellermann M; Scott J; Pecl GT | |
2021 | Novaglio C, Bax N, Boschetti F, Emad GR, Frusher S, et al., 'Deep aspirations: towards a sustainable offshore Blue Economy', Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 32 pp. 209-230. ISSN 0960-3166 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s11160-020-09628-6 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 9Web of Science - 8 Co-authors: Novaglio C; Bax N; Emad GR; Frusher S; Fullbrook LR; Jennings S; van Putten I; Spain EA; Vince J; Fulton EA | |
2020 | Wood G, 'On the perceived objectivity of some moral beliefs', Philosophical Psychology, 33, (1) pp. 23-41. ISSN 0951-5089 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/09515089.2019.1696454 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 1 | |
2017 | Wood G, 'Do religious beliefs have a place within an 'epistemically naturalized' cognitive system?', Sophia, 56, (4) pp. 539-556. ISSN 0038-1527 (2017) [Refereed Article] | |
2015 | Gale F, Davison A, Wood G, Williams S, Towle N, 'Four impediments to embedding education for sustainability in higher education', Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 31, (2) pp. 248-263. ISSN 0814-0626 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1017/aee.2015.36 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 21 Co-authors: Gale F; Davison A; Williams S; Towle N | |
2014 | Wood G, 'Generalizing a model beyond the inherence heuristic and applying it to beliefs about objective value', Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 37, (5) pp. 504-505. ISSN 0140-525X (2014) [Contribution to Refereed Journal] | |
2011 | Wood G, 'Cognitive science and religious belief', Philosophy Compass, 6, (10) pp. 734-745. ISSN 1747-9991 (2011) [Refereed Article] | |
2009 | Wood G, 'Detecting Design: fast and frugal or all things considered?', Sophia, 48, (2) pp. 195-210. ISSN 0038-1527 (2009) [Refereed Article] | |
2007 | Wood G, 'Fine-tuning 'Analogies' and The Law of Small Probability', Philo, 10, (2) pp. 149-157. ISSN 1098-3570 (2007) [Refereed Article] | |
2006 | Wood G, 'The fine-tuning argument: the 'design inference' version', Religious Studies, 42, (4) pp. 467-471. ISSN 0034-4125 (2006) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1017/S0034412506008493 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 2 |
Chapter in Book
(6 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2019 | Wood G, 'Method: Atheism', Theism and Atheism: Opposing Arguments in Philosophy, Macmillan Reference USA, JW Koterski and G Oppy (ed), United States, pp. 49-63. ISBN 9780028664460 (2019) [Research Book Chapter] | |
2019 | Wood G, 'Understanding Historical and Contemporary Ethics and Earth Ethics', Inspiring Earth Ethics: Linking Values and Action, Australian Earth Laws Alliance, M Maloney, J Grieves, B Adams and E Brindal (ed), Banyo, Queensland, Australia, pp. 7-12. ISBN 9780648713708 (2019) [Other Book Chapter] | |
2014 | Wood G, 'Understanding person' talk: when is it appropriate to think in terms of persons?', The Roots of religion: Exploring the Cognitive Science of Religion, Ashgate, R, Trigg and J, Barrett (ed), United Kingdom, pp. 91-112. ISBN 9781472427311 (2014) [Research Book Chapter] | |
2013 | Wood G, 'The Rationality of Heuristic Religious Belief', A New Science of Religion, Routledge, GW Dawes and J Maclaurin (ed), Abingdon, pp. 189-204. ISBN 9780415635851 (2013) [Research Book Chapter] | |
2012 | Wood Graham, 'Attributing Agency: Fast and Frugal or All Things Considered?', Scientific Approaches to the Philosophy of Religion, Palgrave Macmillan, Yujin Nagasawa (ed), Basingstoke, pp. 71-91. ISBN 9780230291102 (2012) [Research Book Chapter] | |
2011 | Wood G, 'The Pulp Mill, Bleached Kraft Paper and Sustainable Development: an Ethical Analysis of Necessities Versus Luxuries', Pulp Friction in Tasmania: A review of the environmental assessment of Gunns' proposed pulp mill, Pencil Pine Press, Fred Gale (ed), Launceston, pp. 287-304. ISBN 9780646545783 (2011) [Other Book Chapter] |
Review
(1 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2014 | Wood G, 'Fraser Watts (ed.), Creation: Law and Probability', European Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 6, (4) pp. 205-211. ISSN 1689-8311 (2014) [Review Single Work] |
Thesis
(1 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2005 | Wood G, 'The fine-tuning of the universe, a philosophical analysis' (2005) [PhD] |
Other Public Output
(1 outputs)Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
---|---|---|
2020 | Wood G, 'The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Biological and Cultural Evolutionary Analysis', Heterodox: The Blog, Heterodox Academy, June (2020) [Newspaper Article] |
Grants & Funding
Funding Summary
Number of grants
6
Total funding
Projects
- Description
- Cataloguing hazards and characterising risks associated with the Blue Economy is the most challenging step of any risk identification process. This project will deliver an integrative characterisation of risk across all parts of the Blue Economy CRC engineering and technology, production, energy, sustainability and policy. The resulting integrated inventory will identify the multidimensional envelopes of risk relevant to the Blue Economy activities in the short to medium term. Opportunities (research gaps, industry needs, etc.) identified during the analysis will also be catalogued. Consequently, this project is foundational to many CRC activities, bringing immediate benefit to any industry partners undertaking trials or deployment within the next decade.
- Funding
- Blue Economy CRC Co ($613,462)
- Scheme
- General Projects
- Administered By
- Blue Economy CRC Co
- Research Team
- Fulton E; Lacharite M; Semmens JM; Lea MA; MacLeod C; D'Alessandro SP; Deegan CM; Hatton MacDonald DA; Haward MG; Wood G; Abdussamie N
- Period
- 2020 - 2022
- Description
- The governance of the Blue Economy (BE) involves all levels of government and industry and is affected by a range of normative, regulatory, economic and policy frameworks that are poorly integrated. This in part reflects the lack of clarity over the values justifying the BE. This project will scope three general projects that would identify, analyse and reconcile those values (from UN Global Compact to the Social License to Operate), integrate the range of BE governance activities in a BE Integrity System, and explore the various options for certification of BE products that will add to the integrity systems strength.
- Funding
- Blue Economy CRC Co ($43,749)
- Scheme
- Scoping Study Projects
- Administered By
- Blue Economy CRC Co
- Research Team
- Sampford C; Fievez J; Breakey H; Cadman T; Lewis M; Wood G
- Year
- 2020
- Description
- While the Blue Economy (BE) can provide many community benefits, ethical concerns about its operations can threaten its social license to operate. To ensure their legitimacy, Blue Economy industries need to consider, prioritise and implement the values justifying their operations to the communitiesin which they operate.. Helping fill this need, this project will produce a worldfirst account of the substantive ethical and governance values at stake in the Blue Economy, comprehensively considering all relevant social, economic and environmental values. This project will be the first in a planned sequence of projects in RP5 and support other projects in other programs considering BE risks, values and social license.
- Funding
- Blue Economy CRC Co ($479,981)
- Scheme
- General Projects
- Administered By
- Blue Economy CRC Co
- Research Team
- Sampford C; Rissik D; Dutton I; O'Neill A; Fievez J; Breakey H; Wood G; Lewis M
- Period
- 2020 - 2024
- Description
- The aim of this project is to answer the question 'what method or methods should be used in attempts to assess the comparative merits of two worldviews, one incorporating Theism and the other Atheism?"
- Funding
- Cengage Learning Inc ($1,585)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Wood G
- Year
- 2018
- Description
- The ongoing public debate around anthropogenic climate change makes one thing clear: scientists can have a hard time getting their message across to the public. Various explanations have been given for the lack of public acceptance of the reality of anthropogenic climate changefrom individual biases to manipulation of the media by those with vested interests. In this project, we will explore the hypothesis that: scientists have trouble communicating their findings to the public due to many members of the public having overly simplistic understandings of the nature of natural science. In particular, for example, we are interested in the apparently paradoxical idea that such resistance by the public can be the result of Scientisman excessive or dogmatic belief in the power of scientific knowledge and techniques. Those who view science this way may hold scientific discussion to an unrealistically high standard, and when a theory inevitably falls short of this standard (e.g. when there is seen to be disagreement among experts on climate change), the theory is dismissed as unsettled or a result of bad science. Alternatively, scientific claims may be dismissed as presumptuous or arrogant.In this project a multidisciplinary team will:1.Provide epistemic insights through the exploration of what is knowable in science from a cross-disciplinary perspective.2.Gather baseline data about:(i) the extent to which academic staff teachers, and cohorts of students from across disciplines, understand the nature and process of science;(ii) any correlations between overly simplistic understandings of science and dismissive attitudes towards particular theories, and/or the scientific enterprise in general.This is a pilot for a larger study which will gather a larger data set, and test the effectiveness of one or more interventions that will be designed to aid in the development of a more sophisticated view of science.
- Funding
- University of Tasmania ($10,455)
- Scheme
- Grant - CALE Hothouse Alignment Scheme
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Fraser SP; Chase JK; Coady DA; Corry RL; Hinds M; Konkes C; Wood G; Seen AJ
- Year
- 2018
- Funding
- John Templeton Foundation ($28,001)
- Scheme
- Grant
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Wood G
- Period
- 2009 - 2010
Research Supervision
Graham welcomes expressions of interest from individuals considering undertaking an MA or PhD in Moral Psychology, Cognitive Science of Religion, or Environmental Philosophy.
Current
2
Completed
1
Current
Degree | Title | Commenced |
---|---|---|
PhD | Professional Codes of Ethics: The development of the Taxonomy of Ethics | 2020 |
PhD | Dennett versus Nagel: Addressing and potentially resolving the tensions arising from the philosophical works of Daniel C. Dennett and Thomas Nagel | 2020 |
Completed
Degree | Title | Completed |
---|---|---|
PhD | Experience, Reality and Representation: On the implications of a maximally non-deflationary phenomenal realism Candidate: Jason Peter Whatley | 2015 |