Austen McDougal is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Philosophy and Religion who specializes in ethics. His research pulls on an age-old thread that says ethics is fundamentally, albeit not exclusively, about the heart. In particular, motives for acting have intrinsic significance independent of outcome: being for what matters (motives) is just as important to ethics as bringing about what matters (outcomes). He also argues that agency is basically about deciding your motives and only derivatively about voluntary control over your actions. A number of recent projects explore the grounds for more compassionate ways of being oriented toward others: for showing attention, grace, and love even when these might not be deserved. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Stanford and an A.B. in Philosophy with a certificate in Computer Science from Princeton.