I am a Finnish philosopher working in the UK at the Department of Philosophy, Durham University. I have been a Visiting Research Fellow at Durham since December 2008. Currently I am funded by a 'Research Abroad' grant from The Academy of Finland.

My primary research interests are in contemporary analytic metaphysics and the methodology of metaphysics, especially a priori knowledge, modality, and essences, but I also have research interests in philosophical logic, epistemology, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of science.

I took my Master’s degree in philosophy at Helsinki between 2002 and 2005, which in Finland also includes studies equivalent to the British BA. My Master’s thesis was entitled ‘Grounding Metaphysics: Metaphysical Necessity and Essentialism’. Between 2005 and 2008 I worked on my Ph.D. thesis entitled ‘The Necessity of Metaphysics’ at Durham under the supervision of Professor E. J. Lowe. I passed my viva in April 2008.

In my Ph.D. thesis I argue for a rigorously realist understanding of metaphysics and defend the role of metaphysics in contemporary analytic philosophy. The central themes of the thesis concern a priori knowledge, modality, and essences.

I am currently working on a book provisionally entitled ‘A Study of the Foundations of Metaphysics: The A Priori, Modality, and Essences’, which develops the main themes of my PhD thesis.

Other Interests

In addition to philosophy, I have interests in literature, computer science, aesthetics (I studied all three at Helsinki), photography (click the 'Photography' tab for more information), popular science, physics, history, art, architecture, films, theatre, comedy, hill walking, snooker, nature, running, badminton, travelling, cooking, vegetarianism, real ale, wine, whisky, tea.