Research outputs

Selected research outputs

Sophistry on steroids? The ethics, epistemology and politics of persuasive AI (Journal article - 2026)
The duty to listen (Journal article - 2025)
Non-Ideal Epistemology (Book - 2023)
The Ethics and Epistemology of Persuasion (Journal article - 2025)
SITUATING FEMINIST EPISTEMOLOGY (Journal article - 2020)
The genealogical method in epistemology (Journal article - 2020)
Skepticism Motivated: On the Skeptical Import of Motivated Reasoning (Journal article - 2020)
Revisionary Epistemology (Journal article - 2015)

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2026

Doing Your Own Patient Activist Research

McKenna, R. (2026). Doing Your Own Patient Activist Research. Social Epistemology, 1-16. doi:10.1080/02691728.2026.2646178

DOI: 10.1080/02691728.2026.2646178
: Journal article

Skepticism and Political Conservatism

McKenna, R., & Ranalli, C. (2025). Skepticism and Political Conservatism. International Journal for the Study of Skepticism, 16(1), 53-71. doi:10.1163/22105700-bja10117

DOI: 10.1163/22105700-bja10117
: Journal article

Sophistry on steroids? The ethics, epistemology and politics of persuasive AI

McKenna, R. (2026). Sophistry on steroids? The ethics, epistemology and politics of persuasive AI. AI & SOCIETY, 41(2), 883-894. doi:10.1007/s00146-025-02624-z

DOI: 10.1007/s00146-025-02624-z
: Journal article

Idealization in Epistemology: A Modest Modeling Approach

McKenna, R. (2026). Idealization in Epistemology: A Modest Modeling Approach. Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 104(1), 305-308. doi:10.1080/00048402.2025.2498006

DOI: 10.1080/00048402.2025.2498006
: Book Review

2025

Ideal and Non-Ideal Theory in Epistemology

McKenna, R., & Dunne, G. (2025). Ideal and Non-Ideal Theory in Epistemology. International Journal of Philosophical Studies, 33(2), 105-115. doi:10.1080/09672559.2025.2545755

DOI: 10.1080/09672559.2025.2545755
: Journal article

The duty to listen

Joshi, H., & McKenna, R. (2024). The duty to listen. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research. doi:10.1111/phpr.13119

DOI: 10.1111/phpr.13119
: Journal article

Kornblith, Naturalism, Relativism

KUSCH, M., & MCKENNA, R. (2025). Kornblith, Naturalism, Relativism. In Unknown Book (pp. 21-38). Wiley. doi:10.1002/9781394374366.ch2

DOI: 10.1002/9781394374366.ch2
: Chapter

The Ethics and Epistemology of Persuasion

McKenna, R. (2024). The Ethics and Epistemology of Persuasion. Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 54(4), 314-328. doi:10.1017/can.2025.10005

DOI: 10.1017/can.2025.10005
: Journal article

2024

What is good thinking? Comments on Mona Simion’s Shifty Speech and Independent Thought

McKenna, R. (2024). What is good thinking? Comments on Mona Simion’s Shifty Speech and Independent Thought. Inquiry, 1-13. doi:10.1080/0020174x.2024.2313188

DOI: 10.1080/0020174x.2024.2313188
: Journal article

2023

Non-Ideal Epistemology

McKenna, R. (2023). Non-Ideal Epistemology. Oxford University PressOxford. doi:10.1093/oso/9780192888822.001.0001

DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780192888822.001.0001
: Book

Synthese: an international journal for epistemology, methodology and philosophy of science

Kidd, I. J., & McKenna, R. (Eds.) (2023). Synthese: an international journal for epistemology, methodology and philosophy of science (Vol. na). Springer Nature.

: Edited special journal issue

Virtues and Vices in a Non-Ideal World

McKenna, R. (2023). Virtues and Vices in a Non-Ideal World. Retrieved from https://blog.oup.com/2023/09/virtues-and-vices-in-a-non-ideal-world/

: Website content

2022

The Mismeasure of the Self: A Study in Vice Epistemology

McKenna, R. (2022). The Mismeasure of the Self: A Study in Vice Epistemology. The Philosophical Quarterly, 72(4), 1048-1051. doi:10.1093/pq/pqac002

DOI: 10.1093/pq/pqac002
: Book Review

Review of Prejudice: A Study in Non-Ideal Epistemology by Endre Begby

McKenna, R. (2022). Review of Prejudice: A Study in Non-Ideal Epistemology by Endre Begby. Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews.

: Book Review

Bortolotti on Epistemic Innocence

McKenna, R. (2022). Bortolotti on Epistemic Innocence. Analysis, 82(2), 368-376. doi:10.1093/analys/anac015

DOI: 10.1093/analys/anac015
: Journal article

Nuno Venturinha, Description of Situations: An Essay in Contextualist Epistemology

McKenna, R. (2022). Nuno Venturinha, Description of Situations: An Essay in Contextualist Epistemology. International Journal for the Study of Skepticism, 1-6. doi:10.1163/22105700-bja10034

DOI: 10.1163/22105700-bja10034
: Book Review

Is knowledge a social phenomenon?

McKenna, R. (2022). Is knowledge a social phenomenon?. Inquiry, 1-25. doi:10.1080/0020174x.2022.2135823

DOI: 10.1080/0020174x.2022.2135823
: Journal article

2021

Assertion, action, and context

McKenna, R., & Hannon, M. (2021). Assertion, action, and context. Synthese, 199(1-2), 731-743. doi:10.1007/s11229-020-02705-0

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-020-02705-0
: Journal article

Absolutism, Relativism and Metaepistemology

Carter, J. A., & McKenna, R. (2021). Absolutism, Relativism and Metaepistemology. Erkenntnis, 86(5), 1139-1159. doi:10.1007/s10670-019-00147-w

DOI: 10.1007/s10670-019-00147-w
: Journal article

Persuasion and Intellectual Autonomy

McKenna, R. (2021). Persuasion and Intellectual Autonomy. In Epistemic Autonomy (pp. 113-131). Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003003465-9

DOI: 10.4324/9781003003465-9
: Chapter

A (Partial) Defense of Moderate Skeptical Invariantism

McKenna, R. (2021). A (Partial) Defense of Moderate Skeptical Invariantism. In SKEPTICAL INVARIANTISM RECONSIDERED (pp. 154-171). Retrieved from https://www.webofscience.com/

: Chapter

Asymmetrical irrationality

McKenna, R. (2021). Asymmetrical irrationality. In The Routledge Handbook of Political Epistemology (pp. 285-295). Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429326769-34

DOI: 10.4324/9780429326769-34
: Chapter

Mill and Ideal Theory

McKenna, R. (2021). Mill and Ideal Theory. Retrieved from https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/openfordebate/mill-and-ideal-theory/

: Website content

2020

Skepticism Motivated: On the Skeptical Import of Motivated Reasoning

McKenna, R., & Carter, J. A. (2020). Skepticism Motivated: On the Skeptical Import of Motivated Reasoning. Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 50(6), 702-718. doi:10.1017/can.2020.16

DOI: 10.1017/can.2020.16
: Journal article

Feminist Epistemology and Pragmatic Encroachment

McKenna, R. (2020). Feminist Epistemology and Pragmatic Encroachment. In Social Epistemology and Relativism (pp. 103-121). Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429199356-9

DOI: 10.4324/9780429199356-9
: Chapter

Introduction

Ashton, N. A., Kusch, M., McKenna, R., & Sodoma, K. A. (2020). Introduction. In Unknown Book (pp. 1-7).

: Chapter

Social Epistemology and Relativism

Ashton, N. A., Kusch, M., McKenna, R., & Sodoma, K. A. (Eds.) (2020). Social Epistemology and Relativism. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429199356

DOI: 10.4324/9780429199356
: Book

SITUATING FEMINIST EPISTEMOLOGY

Ashton, N. A., & McKenna, R. (2020). SITUATING FEMINIST EPISTEMOLOGY. Episteme, 17(1), 28-47. doi:10.1017/epi.2018.11

DOI: 10.1017/epi.2018.11
: Journal article

The genealogical method in epistemology

Kusch, M., & McKenna, R. (2020). The genealogical method in epistemology. Synthese, 197(3), 1057-1076. doi:10.1007/s11229-018-1675-1

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-018-1675-1
: Journal article

Persuasion and Epistemic Paternalism

McKenna, R. (2020). Persuasion and Epistemic Paternalism. In Epistemic Paternalism Conceptions Justifications and Implications (pp. 91-106).

: Chapter

The Disappearance of Ignorance

McKenna, R. (2019). The Disappearance of Ignorance. International Journal for the Study of Skepticism, 1-17. doi:10.1163/22105700-20191371

DOI: 10.1163/22105700-20191371
: Journal article

2019

Climate change: three ways to market the science to reach the sceptics

McKenna, R. (2019). Climate change: three ways to market the science to reach the sceptics. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/

: Website content

Kornblith versus Sosa on grades of knowledge

Carter, J. A., & McKenna, R. (2019). Kornblith versus Sosa on grades of knowledge. Synthese, 196(12), 4989-5007. doi:10.1007/s11229-018-1689-8

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-018-1689-8
: Journal article

Vices of the mind: From the intellectual to the political, by QuassimCassam. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019. xiv + 202 pp. ISBN:9780198826903 hb £25

McKenna, R. (2019). Vices of the mind: From the intellectual to the political, by QuassimCassam. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019. xiv + 202 pp. ISBN:9780198826903 hb £25. European Journal of Philosophy, 27(4), 1084-1087. doi:10.1111/ejop.12504

DOI: 10.1111/ejop.12504
: Book Review

Irrelevant Cultural Influences on Belief

McKenna, R. (2019). Irrelevant Cultural Influences on Belief. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 36(5). doi:10.1111/japp.12347

DOI: 10.1111/japp.12347
: Journal article

Extended Epistemology

McKenna, R. (2019). Extended Epistemology. Analysis, 79(4), 790-799. doi:10.1093/analys/anz074

DOI: 10.1093/analys/anz074
: Journal article

Relativism and Externalism

Mckenna, R. J., & Carter, J. A. (n.d.). Relativism and Externalism. In M. Kusch (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Relativism. Routledge.

: Chapter

2018

No Epistemic Trouble for Engineering ‘Woman’

McKenna, R. (2018). No Epistemic Trouble for Engineering ‘Woman’. Logos & Episteme, 9(3), 335-342. doi:10.5840/logos-episteme20189325

DOI: 10.5840/logos-episteme20189325
: Journal article

Introduction

Kyriacou, C., & McKenna, R. (2018). Introduction. In Metaepistemology (pp. 1-14). Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-93369-6_1

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-93369-6_1
: Chapter

Metaepistemology

Kyriacou, C., & McKenna, R. (Eds.) (2018). Metaepistemology. Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-93369-6

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-93369-6
: Book

Metaepistemology Realism and Anti-Realism Introduction

Kyriacou, C., & McKenna, R. (2018). Metaepistemology Realism and Anti-Realism Introduction. In METAEPISTEMOLOGY: REALISM AND ANTI-REALISM (pp. 1-14). doi:10.1007/978-3-319-93369-6_1

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-93369-6_1
: Chapter

The Genealogy of Relativism and Absolutism

Kusch, M., & McKenna, R. (2018). The Genealogy of Relativism and Absolutism. In Metaepistemology (pp. 217-239). Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-93369-6_10

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-93369-6_10
: Chapter

2017

Metaepistemology and Relativism, written by J. Adam Carter

McKenna, R. (2017). Metaepistemology and Relativism, written by J. Adam Carter. International Journal for the Study of Skepticism, 7(3), 212-216. doi:10.1163/22105700-00001253

DOI: 10.1163/22105700-00001253
: Book Review

Action, Knowledge, and Will By John Hyman

McKenna, R. (2017). Action, Knowledge, and Will By John Hyman. Analysis, 77(3), 667-670. doi:10.1093/analys/anx061

DOI: 10.1093/analys/anx061
: Book Review

Assurance: An Austinian View of Knowledge and Knowledge Claims

McKenna, R. (2016). Assurance: An Austinian View of Knowledge and Knowledge Claims. The Philosophical Quarterly, pqw043. doi:10.1093/pq/pqw043

DOI: 10.1093/pq/pqw043
: Book Review

Conversational Kinematics

McKenna, R. (2017). Conversational Kinematics. In The Routledge Handbook of Epistemic Contextualism (pp. 321-331). Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781315745275-26

DOI: 10.4324/9781315745275-26
: Chapter

Pluralism About Knowledge

McKenna, R. (2017). Pluralism About Knowledge. In Epistemic Pluralism (pp. 171-199). Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-65460-7_7

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-65460-7_7
: Chapter

2016

CLIFFORD AND THE COMMON EPISTEMIC NORM

McKenna, R. (2016). CLIFFORD AND THE COMMON EPISTEMIC NORM. AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY, 53(3), 245-257. Retrieved from https://www.webofscience.com/

: Journal article

2015

Revisionary Epistemology

Fassio, D., & McKenna, R. (2015). Revisionary Epistemology. Inquiry, 58(7-8), 755-779. doi:10.1080/0020174x.2015.1083468

DOI: 10.1080/0020174x.2015.1083468
: Journal article

Assertion, Complexity, and Sincerity

McKenna, R. (2015). Assertion, Complexity, and Sincerity. Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 93(4), 782-798. doi:10.1080/00048402.2014.1003075

DOI: 10.1080/00048402.2014.1003075
: Journal article

Scepticism and Reliable Belief, by José L. Zalabardo.

Mckenna, R. (2015). Scepticism and Reliable Belief, by José L. Zalabardo.. Mind, 124(496), 1402-1407. doi:10.1093/mind/fzv063

DOI: 10.1093/mind/fzv063
: Book Review

Contextualism in Epistemology

McKenna, R. (2015). Contextualism in Epistemology. Analysis, 75(3), 489-503. doi:10.1093/analys/anv029

DOI: 10.1093/analys/anv029
: Journal article

Knowledge Ascriptions

Mckenna, R. (2015). Knowledge Ascriptions. The Philosophical Quarterly, 65(259), 292-295. doi:10.1093/pq/pqu073

DOI: 10.1093/pq/pqu073
: Book Review

Epistemic contextualism defended

McKenna, R. (2015). Epistemic contextualism defended. Synthese, 192(2), 363-383. doi:10.1007/s11229-014-0572-5

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-014-0572-5
: Journal article

2014

Shifting Targets and Disagreements

McKenna, R. (2014). Shifting Targets and Disagreements. Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 92(04), 725-742. doi:10.1080/00048402.2014.891145

DOI: 10.1080/00048402.2014.891145
: Journal article

Normative scorekeeping

McKenna, R. (2014). Normative scorekeeping. Synthese, 191(3), 607-625. doi:10.1007/s11229-013-0293-1

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-013-0293-1
: Journal article

Disagreeing about ‘Ought’

McKenna, R. (2014). Disagreeing about ‘Ought’. Ethics, 124(3), 589-597. doi:10.1086/674842

DOI: 10.1086/674842
: Journal article

2013

‘KNOWLEDGE’ ASCRIPTIONS, SOCIAL ROLES AND SEMANTICS

McKenna, R. (2013). ‘KNOWLEDGE’ ASCRIPTIONS, SOCIAL ROLES AND SEMANTICS. Episteme, 10(4), 335-350. doi:10.1017/epi.2013.30

DOI: 10.1017/epi.2013.30
: Journal article

Epistemic Contextualism: A Normative Approach

Mckenna, R. (2013). Epistemic Contextualism: A Normative Approach. Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, 94(1), 101-123. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0114.2012.01447.x

DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0114.2012.01447.x
: Journal article

Why Assertion and Practical Reasoning Are Possibly Not Governed by the Same Epistemic Norm

McKenna, R. (2013). Why Assertion and Practical Reasoning Are Possibly Not Governed by the Same Epistemic Norm. Logos & Episteme, 4(4), 457-464. doi:10.5840/logos-episteme2013446

DOI: 10.5840/logos-episteme2013446
: Journal article

2012

Assertion: New Philosophical Essays, edited by Jessica Brown and Herman Cappelen

Hazlett, A., McKenna, R., & Pollock, J. (2012). Assertion: New Philosophical Essays, edited by Jessica Brown and Herman Cappelen. Mind, 121(483), 784-788. doi:10.1093/mind/fzs111

DOI: 10.1093/mind/fzs111
: Book Review

2011

Interests Contextualism

McKenna, R. (2011). Interests Contextualism. Philosophia, 39(4), 741-750. doi:10.1007/s11406-011-9316-7

DOI: 10.1007/s11406-011-9316-7
: Journal article

The Case for Contextualism: Knowledge, Skepticism, and Context

McKenna, R., & Pritchard, D. (2011). The Case for Contextualism: Knowledge, Skepticism, and Context. The Philosophical Review, 120(3), 455-460. doi:10.1215/00318108-1263719

DOI: 10.1215/00318108-1263719
: Book Review