The 'Work In Progress' (WIP) seminar is a weekly space for Philosophy postgraduates to present in-progress work and get feedback in a risk-free, supportive setting.It is an informal session, organised and led by graduates.
Each week, a graduate presents a piece of in-progress work. The presentation lasts 30 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of open discussion and Q&A.
Attendance optional but recommended. All are welcome, whether MA, MPhil, PhD, faculty, or visitors.
A lively trip to the pub typically follows each seminar.
How does it work?
Each week, a graduate will present a piece of their current work in progress. This can be anything, e.g. an assessed essay (for MA), a supervision essay (for MPhils), or a thesis section (for PhDs).
The presentation lasts 30 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of discussion and Q&A. Presentations can take any form - slides, handouts, both, or just talking.
No prior reading or background knowledge is expected from attendees.
When and where is it?
The WIP takes place every Thursday from 17:00 to 18:15.
Location is room S2.77.You can also join remotely via Teams.
Talk titles, abstracts, and the Teams link are circulated via email each Monday.
How do I present?
Email the organisers, Tiago Rodrigues and/or Lucas Menezes, to book a slot.
Should I present? ("I have nothing ready; I hate public speaking; etc.")
All graduates are encouraged to present at least once per year.
Simply signing up for a date is a great way to give yourself a deadline to work towards. (This is what most people do.)
Remember, the WIP is an informal and supportive space. Its whole purpose is to give graduates a chance to take risks, test out ideas, and get constructive feedback from peers.
Presentations need not (in fact, should not) be watertight or polished pieces at all. You are encouraged to present work at all stages of the writing process - first drafts, substantial sets of notes, etc.
Guidance for Presenters
What to present. Any reasonable piece of in-progress work, e.g. an assessed essay, a thesis section, a writing sample, a conference paper, a project outline, etc.
Recommended length. Aim for 3,000 to 5,000 words, so you can comfortably present within the 30-minute time slot.
Presentation balance. Be mindful of how you structure your time. A common pitfall is over-explaining the setup and running out of time for the main argument. A good rule of thumb is max. 10 minutes for groundwork and 20 minutes for the parts you actually want feedback on.
Submission deadline. Email your title and abstract to the organisers by Sunday evening beforeyour presentation, e.g. if presenting Week 5, email it by the end of Sunday in Week 4.
All in-progress work is welcome. No magnum opus - early drafts, partial sections, project outlines, and even sets of notes are all encouraged.
Why you should present. The WIP is a unique opportunity to improve your work for two reasons. First, preparing your paper for presentation helps you clarify your ideas and make your argument more concise and accessible. Second, it gives you a low-pressure environment to test arguments, get feedback, and respond to objections without the stress of formal assessment.
Unwind. The seminar is informal, friendly, and designed to encourage open discussion. Not only is it a great opportunity to unwind with other graduates and faculty during the work week, but there is also a well-earned pub trip after.
Current Schedule for Term 3 (2024/25)
A list of seminars occurring in the current academic term can be found below:
All WIPs take place on the Thursday of the specified week, at 5pm, in room S2.77.
Wk 1 - 24th April - Ben Long (MPhil) - 'Won't the Real Hume Please Stand Up? Why Hume Was Not a Perspectivist'
Wk 2 - 1st May - Seth Kemball (MA) - 'Literature, Love, and the Ethics of Freedom in de Beauvoir's La Femme Rompue'
Wk 3 - 8th May - Robert Russell (MA) - 'Does Representing Times Involve the Ability to Think of Them Objectively?'
Wk 4 - 15th May - Eve Poirier (MPhil) - 'Naturalistic Philosophy (of Action)'
Wk 5 - 22nd May - Charlie Theodosius (MA) - 'Transformative Theories of Life: The Case Against Non-Conceptual Content and Animality'
Wk 6 - 29th May - Keyu Qiu (MPhil) - 'Authenticity in Autonomy'
Wk 7 - 5th June - Chris Hall (PhD) - 'The Explanatory Role of Social Norms'
Wk 8 - 12th June - Johan Heemskerk (PostDoc) - 'The Limitations of Philosophy'
Wk 9 - 19th June - Elias Desalegn Girma Wondimu (MA) - 'Heidegger and Race'
Wk 10 - 26th June - Ignacio Caroca (PhD)
