Kieran Setiya

Kieran Setiya

Kieran Setiya is a distinguished philosopher and Professor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he specializes in ethics, epistemology, and the philosophy of mind. Born in Hull, UK, he has made significant contributions to philosophical discourse, particularly through his exploration of human agency and ethical knowledge. Setiya holds a PhD from Princeton University and has published extensively in both academic and popular venues.

He is the author of several influential books, including Practical Knowledge (2008), Reasons without Rationalism (2007), and Knowing Right From Wrong (2012), which defend various theories related to intention and virtue ethics. His recent work, Midlife: A Philosophical Guide (2020), addresses the challenges and opportunities that arise during midlife, offering philosophical insights into navigating this pivotal stage. Setiya’s latest book, Life is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way (2022), combines personal narrative with philosophical inquiry, tackling themes such as grief, failure, and the absurdity of life while providing guidance on how to cope with adversity. His writings have been featured in prominent publications like The New Yorker, The Economist, and The New York Times, reflecting his commitment to making philosophy accessible and relevant to contemporary issues.

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  • Life is Hard
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    Life is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way

    What if the key to surviving life’s cruelties isn’t happiness—but embracing its inherent hardship? In Life Is Hard, MIT philosopher Kieran Setiya confronts the universal trials of grief, failure, and injustice with raw honesty, weaving ancient wisdom and personal anguish into a lifeline for the weary. Through chronic pain and existential despair, he argues that philosophy’s true power lies not in erasing suffering but in illuminating how to live with it—and fight for a world worth enduring. But when the line between solace and reckoning blurs… will you dare to see life as it truly is?

    • Originally Published: 2022
    • Publisher: Riverhead Books, 2022
    • Genre: Non-fiction
    • Pages: 240
    • Book Type: Hardcopy
    • ISBN: 978-0593538210
    • Access: Members