Tamar Gendler

Tamar Szabó Gendler, born in December 1965, is an American philosopher and academic. She holds the position of Vincent J. Scully Professor of Philosophy at Yale University and is also a professor of psychology and cognitive science. From 2014 to 2024, she served as the inaugural dean of the Yale Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Her academic research spans various fields, including the philosophy of psychology, epistemology, metaphysics, aesthetics, and moral psychology. Gendler is particularly known for her work on thought experiments, imagination, and the phenomenon of imaginative resistance. She also coined the term 'alief' to describe a class of mental states that differ from beliefs. Before her tenure at Yale, she taught philosophy at Syracuse University and Cornell University. Gendler's educational background includes a BA from Yale University and a PhD from Harvard University. She is married to philosopher Zoltan Gendler Szabo and has received numerous awards and fellowships for her contributions to philosophy.