Arif Ahmed (philosopher)

Arif Ahmed
Ahmed in 2013
Born
Arif Mohuiddin Ahmed

(1974-03-18) 18 March 1974
Academic background
Alma materSt Anne's College, Oxford
University of Sussex
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Academic work
DisciplinePhilosopher
Sub-discipline

Arif Mohuiddin Ahmed (born 18 March 1974) is a British philosopher and academic, who is the Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom of the Office for Students, following his appointment in June 2023.[1] Before this, Ahmed was a philosopher at the University of Cambridge.

Biography

Ahmed was born on 18 March 1974 in Taunton, Somerset, England.[2][3] He was educated at Bishop's Hull Primary School and Queen's College, an independent school in Taunton.[3] He studied mathematics at St Anne's College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1995.[4] He then changed direction and studied for a Master of Arts (MA) in philosophy at the University of Sussex, graduating in 1996.[3][5] Next, he undertook a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in philosophy at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge,[4][6] which he completed in 2001.[5]

In 2000, he joined Girton College, Cambridge, as a college teaching officer.[5][7] He was elected a fellow of Girton in 2004.[5] He became a fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 2015.[6] The University of Cambridge promoted him to reader in philosophy in 2016.[8][9] He was made Nicholas Sallnow-Smith College Lecturer by his college in 2019.[10] The university appointed him Professor of Philosophy in 2022.[11] His research interests include decision theory and the philosophy of religion, from an atheist and libertarian point of view.[6]

At Cambridge he was an advocate for the protection of freedom of speech. Ahmed was part of a network of academics associated with Peter Thiel and the online magazine Quillette, originating around 2017 and centred around the university's Faculty of Divinity.[12] One of the group's first initiatives[13] was to invite Canadian psychologist and social media influencer Jordan Peterson for a visiting fellowship at the university. The university administration intervened to rescind Peterson's invitation, although Peterson eventually did visit Cambridge, which Ahmed hailed as an "important victory."[14][15][16][17] In 2020, Ahmed also led opposition to the University's proposed amendments to its freedom of speech policy, ultimately concluding with the rejection of the amendments.[18][19] He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to education.[20]

In late 2022 the Minister for Women and Equalities, and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch MP, appointed Ahmed as new commissioner to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Board.[21] He took up the post on 1 January 2023 for a four-year term.[22] He left the EHRC after being appointed Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the Office for Students (OfS) in June 2023.[1][23]

Books

Ahmed is the author of the books Saul Kripke (Continuum Books, 2007), which analyses the philosophy of Saul Kripke,[24] and Evidence, Decision and Causality (Cambridge University Press, 2014), which defends evidential decision theory and critiques causal decision theory.[25] Ahmed is also the editor of both Wittgenstein's Philosophical investigations: A critical guide (Cambridge University Press, 2010)[26] and Newcomb's Problem (Cambridge University Press, 2018).[27]

Personal life

Ahmed's parents migrated from India to the United Kingdom in the 1970s.[28] His father worked as a psychiatrist and his mother as a nurse.[28] He became an atheist as a teenager, having been raised a Muslim.[28] He has been described as a "New Atheist".[29]

Ahmed's partner is Frisbee Sheffield, a classicist specialising in ancient philosophy.[28][30] Together they have three children.[28]

References

  1. ^ a b "Office for Students announces its first Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom". Office for Students. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Ahmed, Dr Arif Mohiuddin, (born 18 March 1974), Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom, Office for Students, since 2023". Who's Who 2025. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Hill, Phil (5 June 2023). "Former Taunton child prodigy appointed universities' 'free speech tsar'". Somerset County Gazette. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Networks of evidence and expertise for public policy - Dr Arif Ahmed". Centre for Science and Policy. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d "CV Arif Ahmed, Faculty of Philosophy, Cambridge CB3 9DA". PhilPapers. The PhilPapers Foundation. 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  6. ^ a b c "Professor Arif Ahmed". Gonville & Caius. University of Cambridge. 2022. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Cambridge University Reporter Special: GIRTON COLLEGE". www.admin.cam.ac.uk. 2004. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Arif Ahmed". Cambridge Faculty of Philosophy. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Promotions for Caius Fellows". Gonville & Caius. University of Cambridge. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Investing in teaching". Once a Caian. No. 19. 2019.
  11. ^ "Prof Arif Ahmed appointed as OfS Freedom of Speech Director". www.cam.ac.uk. University of Cambridge. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  12. ^ Ahmed, Nafeez (2024). Alt Reich: The Network War to Destroy the West from Within. London: Byline Books. p. 262. ISBN 9781916754140.
  13. ^ Ahmed 2024, p. 261.
  14. ^ Quinn, Ben (10 December 2020). "Cambridge University urged to re-invite rightwing academic Jordan Peterson". The Guardian.
  15. ^ Whitworth, Damian (5 December 2020). "The Cambridge professor fighting 'academic McCarthyism': Freedom of speech is fragile, Arif Ahmed tells Damian Whitworth". The Times.
  16. ^ Turner, Camilla (9 December 2020). "Cambridge University dons win free speech row, defeat new 'authoritarian' rules".
  17. ^ "Jordan Peterson heals old wounds with Cambridge return". Unherd News. 24 November 2021.
  18. ^ Quinn, Ben (9 December 2020). "Cambridge University rejects proposal it be 'respectful' of all views". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Cambridge University votes to safeguard free speech". BBC News. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  20. ^ "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B15.
  21. ^ "New EHRC commissioners appointed". 4 December 2022.
  22. ^ "Arif Ahmed MBE". www.equalityhumanrights.com. Equality and Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  23. ^ Freeman, Rob (1 June 2023). "University freedom of speech champion says 'democracy at stake'". The Independent. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  24. ^ Reviews of Saul Kripke: Anton Petrenko, Phil. in Rev., [1], [2]
  25. ^ Reviews of Evidence, Decision and Causality: James M. Joyce, J. Phil., doi:10.5840/jphil2016113413; H. Orri Stefánsson, Phil. of Sci., doi:10.1086/684183; Paul Weirich, Notre Dame Phil. Rev., [3]
  26. ^ Reviews of Wittgenstein's Philosophical investigations: David Macey, Phil. Rev., [4]; George Lazaroiu, Linguistic and Philosophical Investigations, [5].
  27. ^ Reviews of Newcomb's Problem: J. Dmitri Gallow, Economics & Philosophy, doi:10.1017/S0266267119000178; Jack Spencer, Notre Dame Phil. Rev., [6]
  28. ^ a b c d e Yeomans, Emma (31 May 2023). "Who is Arif Ahmed, the UK's first free speech tsar?". The Times.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  29. ^ Ahmed, Nasim (17 January 2023). "Is Rishi Sunak really going to appoint critic of IHRA UK's free speech tsar?". Middle East Monitor. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  30. ^ Sheffield, Dr F. C. C. (10 September 2019). "Dr Frisbee C C Sheffield". www.classics.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
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