Bio


I received my B.S. in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University in 1990. I then went to the Department of Philosophy at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. I completed a Ph.D. there in 1999. I also spent the academic year of 1998-99 at Universität Bielefeld in Germany. I have been teaching at Stanford since 2000.

Academic Appointments


  • Associate Professor, Philosophy
  • Associate Professor (By courtesy), German Studies

Administrative Appointments


  • Dean of the Freshman Sophomore College, Stanford University (2010 - 2016)
  • Faculty Director, Residential Programs, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Stanford University (2014 - 2015)
  • Senior Associate Vice Provost for Residential Affairs, Stanford University (2013 - 2015)

Honors & Awards


  • Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University (2009)
  • The Philosophers Annual 2008, The Philosopher's Annual (2008)
  • Visiting Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem (May - August 2008)
  • Charles A. Ryskamp Research Fellowship, American Council for Learned Societies (2006 - 2007)
  • Laurance S. Rockefeller Visiting Fellow, University Center for Human Values, Princeton University (2006 - 2007)
  • Germanistic Society of America Fellowship, Germanistic Society of America (1998 - 1999)
  • Fulbright Travel Grant, Institute of International Education (1998 - 1999)
  • Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, Woodrow Wilson Foundation (1996 - 1997)
  • Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship, University of Michigan (1996 - 1997 (declined))
  • Rackham One-Term Predoctoral Fellowship, University of Michigan (1995)
  • Recognition for Excellence in the Teaching of Philosophy, American Philosophical Association (1995)
  • Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award, University of Michigan (1994 - 1995)
  • Department of Philosophy John Dewey Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, University of Michigan (1994 - 1995)
  • Regents’ Fellowship, University of Michigan (1990 - 1994)
  • Wirt and Mary Cornwell Prize in the Humanities, University of Michigan (1990 - 1991)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • Member, American Philosophical Association (1999)
  • Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Philosophy, Stanford University (2015 - 2019)
  • Undergraduate Honors Director, Stanford University (2012 - Present)
  • Member, Mind/Bio/Logic Junior Search Committee, Stanford University (2012 - 2013)
  • Member, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Stanford University (2012 - 2013)
  • Member, Junior Ethics Search Committee, Stanford University (2010 - 2011)
  • Member, Junior Core Search Committee, Stanford University (2010 - 2011)
  • Chair, Committee for Redesigning Departmental Web Site, Stanford University (2005 - 2011)
  • Co-Chair, Placement Committee, Stanford University (2009 - 2010)
  • Chair, Admissions Committee, Stanford University (2008 - 2009)
  • Faculty Advisor for Undergraduate Philosophy Association, Stanford University (2008 - 2009)
  • Member, Admissions Committee, Stanford University (2007 - 2008)
  • Member, Placement Committee, Stanford University (2001 - 2003)
  • Member, Placement Committee, Stanford University (2005 - 2006)
  • Member, Ancient Philosophy Search Committee, Stanford University (2003 - 2004)
  • Member, Library Committee, Stanford University (2001 - 2002)
  • Member, Undergraduate Studies Committee, Stanford University (2000 - 2001)
  • Member, Faculty Recruitment Committee, University of Michigan (1996 - 1997)
  • Member, Graduate Studies Committee, University of Michigan (1994 - 1995)
  • Faculty Task Force, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Stanford University (2010 - Present)
  • Chair, Task Force on Residential Education, Stanford University (2010 - 2013)
  • Member, Committee on Academic Computing and Information Systems, Stanford University (2010 - 2013)
  • Member, Subcommittee on Residential and Co-Curricular Learning, Study of Undergraduate Education at Stanford, Stanford University (2010 - 2012)
  • Member, Governance Board, Introduction to the Humanities Program, Stanford University (2007 - 2010)
  • Member, Steering Committee, Web Design Project, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University (2006 - 2009)
  • Member, Islamic Studies Faculty Advisory Board, Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University (2003 - 2008)
  • Member, Program Committee, American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division (2009 - 2012)

Professional Education


  • B.S., Stanford University, Symbolic Systems (1990)
  • M.A., University of Michigan, Philosophy (1995)
  • Ph.D., University of Michigan, Philosophy (1999)

Projects


  • Habib University, Stanford University, Habib University

    Advising development of the new Habib University

    Location

    Karachi, Pakistan

2023-24 Courses


Stanford Advisees


All Publications


  • Practical Reasoning and Linking Beliefs PHILOSOPHY AND PHENOMENOLOGICAL RESEARCH Hussain, N. J. 2015; 91 (1): 211-219

    View details for DOI 10.1111/phpr.12203

    View details for Web of Science ID 000357457800011

  • Nietzsche’s Metaethical Stance The Oxford Handbook on Nietzsche Hussain, N. edited by Richardson, J., Gemes, K. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2013: 389–414
  • Metaethics and Its Discontents: A Case Study of Korsgaard Constructivism in Ethics Hussain, N., Shah, N. edited by Bagnoli, C. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2013: 82–107
  • Contents, Normativity, and Rule-Following Rationality through Reasoning Hussain, N. Wiley-Blackwell. 2013
  • Metaethics and Nihilism in Reginster's The Affirmation of Life JOURNAL OF NIETZSCHE STUDIES Hussain, N. J. 2012; 43 (1): 99-117
  • A Problem for Ambitious Metanormative Constructivism Constructivism in Practical Philosophy Hussain, N. edited by Lenman, J., Shemmer, Y. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2012: 180–194
  • Nietzsche and Non-Cognitivism Nietzsche, Naturalism & Normativity Hussain, N. edited by Robertson, S., Janaway, C. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2012: 111–132
  • The Role of Life in the Genealogy Nietzsche’s On The Genealogy of Morality: A Critical Guide Hussain, N. edited by May, S. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2011: 142–169
  • Error Theory and Fictionalism The Routledge Companion to Ethics Hussain, N. edited by Skorupski, J. London and New York: Routledge. 2010: 335–345
  • Honest Illusion: Valuing for Nietzsche’s Free Spirits Nietzsche and Morality Hussain, N. edited by Leither, B., Sinhababu, N. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2007: 151–191
  • Misunderstanding Metaethics: Korsgaard’s Rejection of Realism Oxford Studies in Metaethics Hussain, N., Shah, N. edited by Shafer-Landau, R. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 2006: 265–294
  • Book Review of Ethical Explorations Ethics Hussain, N. 2005; 115 (3): 626 - 628
  • Nietzsche's positivism EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY Hussain, N. J. 2004; 12 (3): 326-368
  • Discussion - "The guise of a reason" PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES Hussain, N. J. 2004; 121 (3): 263-275
  • The return of moral fictionalism NOUS Hussain, N. J. 2004: 149-187
  • Reading Nietzsche through Ernst Mach Nietzsche and Science Hussain, N. edited by Moore, G., Brobjer, T. H. Aldershot: Ashgate. 2004: 111–129
  • Book Review of Nietzsche and the Transcendental Tradition The Philosophical Review Hussain, N. 2004; 113 (2): 275 - 278