The Philosophy Department is delighted to announce that it will be joined by two new members of staff, Dr Nadine Elzein and Dr Andrew Huddleston, who will both take up their posts in September 2021.

Dr Elzein’s research interests focus on ethics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of mind, as well as problems relating to free will, determinism, moral responsibility, and retributive practices. Dr Elzein studied at University College London, followed by posts at King’s College London, the University of Southampton, UCL, and the University of Oxford.

Dr Huddleston joins the Department as Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Research in Post-Kantian Philosophy, and has previously taught at Birkbeck College, University of London and at Exeter College, Oxford. Research interests include the history of post-Kantian philosophy (esp. Nietzsche; German Idealism, Early German Romanticism, and the Frankfurt School) as well as in aesthetics, social philosophy, and ethics.

Professor Quassim Cassam’s ongoing research into philosophical subjects which connect to urgent global issues continues with a new volume on extremism published by Routledge in September 2021.

Professor Cassam’s authoritative narrative provides an incisive and thought-provoking discussion of extremism in its many differing forms, and uses real world examples to address a range of pressing questions, including: what is extremism and what are its different forms? How does extremism differ from fanaticism and fundamentalism?  How does one become an extremist? How should the notions of radicalization, counter-radicalization and deradicalization be understood?

‘Extremism: A Philosophical Analysis’ offers the reader a clear and highly accessible overview of a controversial subject and its evolving threat to the world today.

Extremism: A Philosophical Analysis - 1st Edition - Quassim Cassam - (routledge.com)

Professor Fabienne Peter will take up a Faculty Fellowship at The Centre for Ethics and Public Affairs at The Murphy Institute, based at Tulane University, Ohio, USA, for the academic year 2021-22. The Murphy Institute is an interdisciplinary research centre focusing on economic, moral and political issues. The Fellowship will allow Professor Peter to continue her research in moral and political philosophy as well as participating in a varied programme of lectures, seminars, conferences.

The Philosophy Department features significantly in the WATE 2021 competition, with three impressive Award Winners.

David Bather Woods received a Staff Award, and both Johan Heemskerk and Jack Shardlow received Awards in the PGR category. All three Department Winners have excelled in the difficult times of the past year by brilliantly implementing an imaginative and thoughtful approach to Learning and Engagement - developing and enhancing the academic experience of their students and providing a strong and sustained network of support and community - despite all the challenges created by the pandemic.

Many congratulations to David, Johan and Jack on this well- deserved accolade - formal recognition of three outstanding contributors to the Philosophy Department and its teaching commitments throughout 2020/2021.

Warwick Awards for Teaching Excellence

Professor Christoph Hoerl is interviewed, along with fellow physicists and psychologists, by Armando Iannucci in this fascinating programme which explores the mystery of why time seems to speed up as we get older, and how our perception of time passing is distorted by both our emotions and memory. How does our concept of “now” impact on our comprehension of the past and future? Listen here to discover more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000w9tg