Russell BlackfordRussell Blackford is an Australian philosopher, literary critic, editor, and author. He is a Conjoint Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Newcastle, NSW, a Fellow of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and a Laureate of the International Academy of Humanism.

He holds First Class Honours degrees in Arts (University of Newcastle) and Law (University of Melbourne) as well as separate Ph.D.s in English literature (University of Newcastle) and philosophy (Monash University).

His many books include 50 Voices of Disbelief: Why We Are Atheists (2009; co-edited with Udo Schuklenk), Freedom of Religion and the Secular State (2012), 50 Great Myths About Atheism (2013; co-authored with Udo Schuklenk), Humanity Enhanced: Genetic Choice and the Challenge for Liberal Democracies (2014), and Intelligence Unbound: The Future of Uploaded and Machine Minds (2014; co-edited with Damien Broderick).

Freedom of Religion and the Secular State is available here, from Amazon.

Russell is a prolific essayist and commentator whose interests include legal, political, and moral philosophy, philosophy of religion, and debates involving visions of the human future. He is a frequent contributor to Free Inquiry, where writes a regular column, and New Philosopher, and has contributed to many other magazines, journals and other publications, including The Australian, Australian Law Journal, The Guardian, Journal of Medical Ethics, Meanjin, The Monist, The Philosophers’ Magazine, and Quadrant.

He is also a professionally published writer and a well-known scholar in the field of science fiction and fantasy; his novels include an original trilogy for the Terminator franchise and a modern-day sequel to the original, 1933, King Kong movie. His other interests include travel, cinema, and following professional tennis. For more information, see his personal website.