Andrew Cooper Memorial Event

The Life and Work of Andrew Cooper: Reflections and Conversations

On 18-19 June, we gathered to remember the life and work of our cherished colleague, teacher and friend, Andrew Cooper. Many travelled in from far and near to take part in the event and it was truly wonderful to have this occasion to reflect on Andrew’s extraordinary scholarly and personal legacy, and to witness how profoundly Andrew touched the lives of so many of us. Our deepest thanks to all the contributors and participants, and to all those who supported the event in various ways.

The conference programme is here Link opens in a new windowas well as below, and the poster is hereLink opens in a new window.

The recordings are available below:

Day 1: https://echo360.org.uk/media/1d7d9cee-0b50-4d89-8ec4-ad62aa3d4793/public

Day 2: https://echo360.org.uk/media/34b9038e-aef7-4c1e-95e5-d943b4158306/public

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the organisers:

Curie Virág:curie.virag@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window.

Karen Simecek:k.d.simecek@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window

Fridolin Neumann:Fridolin.Neumann@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window

Day 1 - 18 June 2026 - Room L5

9:30-10:00 Coffee

10:00-10:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks (Guy Longworth/Curie Virág)

Personal reflections: David James

10:30-11:15 Lecture by Melinda Cooper, “Conversations about Wilderness: Andrew’s 2025 Sabbatical Research Project” (Chair: Curie Virág)

11:15-12:45 Session 1: Philosophy of Nature and Natural history (Chair: Patrick Tomlin)

11:15-12:00 Rob Simpson, “What is the Opposite of Idolatry?”

Break (5 mins)

12:05-12:50 Rozemin Keshvani, “Natural History v. Natural Philosophy: the Kant-Cooper Distinction”

12:50-2:00 Lunch

2:00-4:15 Session 2: Aesthetics, Ethics and Tragedy (Chair: Fridolin Neumann)

2:00-2:45 Eileen John,“ ‘An Enlarged way of Thinking’: Aesthetics and the Moral Project”

2:45-3:30 Stephen Houlgate, “Andrew Cooper and Hegel on Tragedy and Community”

Break (5 mins)

3:35-4:20 Daniel Vanello, “Cooper’s Philosophy of Education: A Holstean Position”

4:20-4:40Coffee

4:40-5:45 Session 3: Personal Reflections (Chair: Karen Simecek)

Fabienne Peter

Alexandra Lilley

ChenweiNie

Oscar Jenkinson

Rozemin Keshvani

Tobias Keiling

Luke Leong

6:00 pm Drinks at Radcliffe

7:30 pm Dinner in Leamington Spa

Day 2 - 19 June 2026 - Room S0.18

9:30-10:00 Coffee

10:00-12:20 Session 4: Philosophy as an Ethical project/Andrew’s Metaphilosophy (Chair: Nadine Elzein)

10:00-10:45 Karen Simecek, “From Poetry to Potatoes: Making a Difference Through Philosophy Projects”

10:45-11:30 Curie Virág, “The Unity of Life: Biology, Ethics and Philosophical Practice”

Break (5 mins)

11:35-12:20 Christoph Schuringa, “The Philosopher as Explorer”

12:20-12:45 Closing Discussion

12:45 Lunch