Webb Keane

Webb Keane is an American anthropologist and the George Herbert Mead Collegiate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan. He is one of the leading thinkers in contemporary anthropology, known for his work on the philosophy of ethics, material culture, and the nature of human sociality. His book Animals, Robots, Gods explores fundamental questions about what makes humans distinctive in a world shared with other beings, both biological and artificial. Drawing on anthropological research, philosophy, and contemporary science, Keane examines how different cultures have understood the boundaries between human and non-human, and what these boundaries reveal about our deepest assumptions regarding consciousness, morality, and agency. Keane's earlier works include Ethical Life: Its Natural and Social Histories and Christian Moderns: Freedom and Fetish in the Mission Encounter, both of which established his reputation for rigorous, original thinking that crosses disciplinary boundaries. His research has taken him from Indonesia to the frontiers of artificial intelligence, always returning to core questions about how humans make sense of themselves and their place in the world. His books are available in both print and audiobook formats, with the audiobook editions making his thought-provoking arguments accessible to listeners who enjoy intellectually ambitious non-fiction. The audio format suits his clear, engaging writing style, allowing listeners to absorb complex ideas during their daily routines. Webb Keane continues to teach and write at the University of Michigan, contributing to some of the most important conversations in contemporary thought.