Erik Angner

Erik Angner is Professor of Practical Philosophy at Stockholm University. He explores current affairs and eternal questions in an accessible way, based on contemporary research and with humor and passion.

With two PhDs – in economics and philosophy of science – Erik operates effortlessly in the space between science and philosophy. He combines personal experience, funny anecdotes, scientific research, and philosophical reflection, and is often praised for his ability to make the difficult accessible.

He welcomes the opportunity to talk about epistemic humility, the realization that our knowledge is always provisional and incomplete — and that it might require revision in light of new evidence. The challenges of knowing what we don’t know is something philosophers have discussed since time of Socrates. Erik draws on half a century of research in behavioral science, which not only sheds new light on the problem of excessive overconfidence but provides us with simple, actionable advice about how to avoid it in our own lives and to build overconfidence-proof teams.

He also likes to talk about happiness. The science of happiness has gotten a lot of attention lately. But what does it mean to be happy? Is it desirable? And what does happiness have to do with “the good life”? These are all philosophical questions that science cannot answer, at least not on its own. Erik argues that happiness is overrated, that being happy is not the same as living a good life, and that there are many other values that are just as important for individuals and communities.

Erik is an experienced speaker who grabs people’s attention both in person and on the screen. He regularly appears in Swedish and international media as an expert on happiness, behavior, behavior change, values, and ideology. His research has been cited in publications such as The New Yorker, USA Today, Die Zeit, and El País.

He is the author of the book How Economics Can Save The World, which describes how a systematic, empirical approach to human behavior helps us live better lives and build a better world. The Irish Times called it “one of the best books of the year so far.” Aktuell Hållbarhet described it as “surprisingly fun, … engaging, and entertaining.”

Being educated in the US, Erik has near-native fluency in English.

Popular titles: Epistemic humility: knowing what we don’t know | The science and philosophy of happiness and the good life