HAMMERTON Matthew
Associate Professor of Philosophy; Basket Coordinator for Modes of Thinking; Area Coordinator, Philosophy; Associate Dean (Education)
Dr Matthew Hammerton is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Singapore Management University. His research explores different categories of value that are important for living a good life and acting ethically. He is best known for his work on agent-relative value, which examines moral theories like consequentialism and deontology. He has also done significant work on meaning in life, examining its connection to well-being, sacrifice, achievement, and luck. His research has been published in international peer-reviewed journals such as the Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Ethics, Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy, and Utilitas. More recently he has turned his attention to the philosophy of work and is currently writing a monograph on workism—the phenomenon of people making their work the primary source of meaning and identity in their lives.
Qualifications
- PhD (Philosophy), Australian National University, 2017
- MPhil (Philosophy), University of Sydney, 2010
Research Interests
- Normative Ethics
- Metaethics
- Philosophy of Happiness
- Philosophy of Work
- Buddhist Ethics
Course(s) Taught in SMU
- Critical Thinking in the Real World
- Big Questions (Happiness and Suffering)
Research Areas and Areas of Expertise
Strategic Priorities
HighlightsRecognized for bridging rigorous philosophical analysis with public engagement and education; combines theoretical innovation in ethics and value theory with practical impact through teaching, curriculum development, and media outreach; recipient of multiple teaching excellence awards; active in community and professional service, including Olympiad leadership and editorial roles.
Focused research areas include Fundamental divisions in ethics; agent-neutral and agent-relative theories; well-being and meaning in life; workism and its ethical implications; logic-checking in public discourse; merit transference and inflation; deontic constraints; social epistemology and privilege.
Showing up to 6 latest publications from the past 5 years.
- S Ryan, M HammertonSocial Epistemology, 1-13, 2025
- M HammertonThe Journal of Value Inquiry 59 (3), 595-612, 2025
- M HammertonPhilosophia, 1-10, 2025
- What Is Wrong with Workism? [2025]M HammertonJournal of Applied Philosophy 42 (2), 668-682, 2025
- M HammertonInquiry 68 (2), 318-341, 2025
- The good life paradox [2025]M HammertonPhilosophy Documentation Center, 2025
Dr Matthew Hammerton is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Singapore Management University. His research explores different categories of value that are important for living a good life and acting ethically. He is best known for his work on agent-relative value, which examines moral theories like consequentialism and deontology. He has also done significant work on meaning in life, examining its connection to well-being, sacrifice, achievement, and luck. His research has been published in international peer-reviewed journals such as the Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Ethics, Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy, and Utilitas. More recently he has turned his attention to the philosophy of work and is currently writing a monograph on workism—the phenomenon of people making their work the primary source of meaning and identity in their lives.
Qualifications
- PhD (Philosophy), Australian National University, 2017
- MPhil (Philosophy), University of Sydney, 2010
Research Interests
- Normative Ethics
- Metaethics
- Philosophy of Happiness
- Philosophy of Work
- Buddhist Ethics
Course(s) Taught in SMU
- Critical Thinking in the Real World
- Big Questions (Happiness and Suffering)