MIT Philosopher Explores the Value of Work

Michal Masny investigates the role work plays in our lives and its impact on well-being.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:36am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic office object like a coffee mug or laptop, repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the role of everyday work tools in shaping our philosophies and experiences around the nature of work.A vibrant, pop art-inspired celebration of the everyday objects that shape our work lives and philosophies.Boulder Today

Michal Masny, the NC Ethics of Technology Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT, examines the benefits of work beyond just a paycheck, such as developing excellence, making social contributions, gaining recognition, and building community. Masny argues that eliminating work altogether may not be unambiguously good, and advocates for finding the right balance between work and leisure time. During his fellowship, Masny has published research on ethical issues around the future of humanity and the existential risks of AI, and has worked to foster dialogue between disciplines like philosophy, science, and technology.

Why it matters

As technological advancements continue to transform the nature of work, Masny's research provides important insights into the value and purpose of work, and the need to consider the broader social and ethical implications of how we structure work in the future.

The details

Masny, originally from Poland, received his PhD in philosophy from Princeton University after studies at Oxford and the University of Warwick. He works in value theory, ethics of technology, and social and political philosophy, with research interests including human and animal well-being, obligations to future generations, the risk of human extinction, the future of work, and anti-aging technology. During his fellowship at MIT, Masny has published articles on ethical issues related to the future of humanity, co-taught an undergraduate bioethics course, led a student research group on deepfakes, and assisted with a summer course on experiential ethics.

  • Masny arrived at MIT in fall 2024 after a postdoc at UC Berkeley.
  • He co-taught an introductory undergraduate course in fall 2024.
  • During the 2024-25 academic year, Masny led a student research group on deepfakes.
  • In spring 2025, Masny's students presented their findings at the MIT Ethics of Computing Research Symposium.
  • In summer 2025, Masny assisted with a philosophy course on experiential ethics.

The players

Michal Masny

The NC Ethics of Technology Postdoctoral Fellow in the MIT Department of Philosophy, who investigates the role and value of work.

Kieran Setiya

The Peter de Florez Professor in Philosophy and head of the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy at MIT, who says the NC Ethics of Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship has allowed MIT to bring in exceptional young philosophers working at the intersection of ethics and AI.

Songyee Yoon

The founder and managing partner of AI-focused investment firm Principal Venture Partners, and a supporter of the NC Ethics of Technology Fellowship, who believes technology and scientific discovery are among humanity's most valuable public goods.

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What they’re saying

“Consider a future in which we shorten the work week, or one in which we eliminate work altogether. I don't believe either of these scenarios would be unambiguously good for everyone.”

— Michal Masny, NC Ethics of Technology Postdoctoral Fellow

“If we want the fabric of our society to be built responsibly, we must train our builders upstream, at the very moment they begin learning to design and scale technology. There is no better place to begin this work than MIT.”

— Songyee Yoon, Founder and Managing Partner, Principal Venture Partners

“In philosophy, you're supposed to question everything.”

— Michal Masny, NC Ethics of Technology Postdoctoral Fellow

What’s next

Masny will begin teaching at the University of Colorado at Boulder in fall 2026, where he plans to continue his research into the value of work.

The takeaway

Masny's research highlights the important role work plays in our lives, beyond just financial compensation, and the need to thoughtfully consider the broader social and ethical implications as technological advancements continue to transform the nature of work.