Department of Philosophy

Our researchers benefit from a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages open collaboration with colleagues from different disciplines, both within the University and at other institutions.

Our research largely falls within 7 themes.

Analytic aesthetics and the history of aesthetics

This includes the philosophy of music, the philosophy of fiction, the ontology of art, and the history of aesthetics with particular reference to Cavendish, Hume, Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche and Collingwood.

Ethics

Examples of current research include:

• the nature of reasons
• value and normativity
• the doing/allowing distinction
• the non-identity problem
• philosophical issues associated with sex and pregnancy

Epistemology

We explore fundamental questions in epistemology concerning the nature of knowledge, the challenge of scepticism, and the scope of self-knowledge. We have a particular interest in:

• epistemic normativity
• epistemic value
• the aims and norms of belief and assertion
• doxastic voluntarism and responsibility

History of philosophy

We specialise in the work of Cavendish, Kant, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Heidegger. We also have research interests in ancient Greek, classical Indian, and modern western philosophy.

Language, logic and metaphysics

Some examples of our wide range of research interests in this area include: 

• linguistic normativity
• the logic and semantics of conditionals
• meta-ontology
• the metaphysics of art
• fictional characters, empty names and nonexistence
• the metaphysics of persons and pregnancy

Political and legal philosophy

This area of research spans both analytic and continental traditions of philosophy. Our researchers in this theme have strong expertise in Western political thought, with particular emphasis on:

• ancient Greek political philosophy
• European political philosophy from the 16th to the 21st century
• American political thought

Wittgenstein and early analytic philosophy

We have research strengths in all areas of Wittgenstein's thought, and in other early analytic philosophers, including Frege, Langer, McDonald, Russell, and Wrinch.

Our academic staff bring a broad range of research interests to their teaching. Our curriculum includes Heidegger, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard and other traditional focal points. In recent years we’ve also taught modules addressing topics such as: 


• Islamic philosophy
• classical Indian philosophy
• ideology and propaganda
• the ethics of climate change
• the philosophy of artificial intelligence

More information for students can be found on the philosophy subject page.

Our commitment to this British Philosophical Society (BPA) and Society for Women in Philosophy UK (SWIP)’s good practice scheme is also reflected in our teaching. We ensure that all our reading lists feature contributions from women and philosophers of diverse backgrounds. 

It’s also demonstrated in our research activities, where, for example, we aim to promote inclusivity by following the BPA/SWIP seminar chairing policy recommendations.