The postgraduate 'Work In Progress' (WIP) seminar offers all Philosophy graduates a platform to present and receive feedback on their current work (in progress). It is an informal session, organised and led by graduates.
Each week, a graduate will present a paper they are working on. This could be an assessed essay (for MAs), a supervision essay (for MPhils), or a thesis chapter (for PhDs).
Attendance optional but recommended. All are welcome, whether MA, MPhil, PhD, faculty, or visitors.
A rowdy (but good-natured) social at the pub reliably follows each seminar.
How does it work?
Each week, a graduate will present a paper they are working on.
The presentation lasts approximately 30 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of open discussion and Q&A.
No previous knowledge or reading is necessary.
When is it?
The WIP takes place every Thursday from 5pm to 6:15pm, room S2.77. You can also attend it online via Teams.
Title and abstract for each talk plus a Teams link is emailed to everyone on a Monday.
How do I present?
Email the organisers, Tiago Rodrigues and/or Lucas Menezes.
Should I present? ("I have nothing to present, I don't like presenting, etc. etc.")
All graduates should aim to present at least once per year.
We advise you to sign up for a date and then commit to it, using it as a deadline to work towards.
Your work doesn't need to be a watertight or polished piece at all. The whole point is for graduates to present in-progress work (hence the name) and hear suggestions/comments from their colleagues, which they can use to improve their work. You can present an early draft or a substantial set of notes. You are encouraged to share work at all stages of the writing process.
Guidance for Presenters
You may present anything (reasonable), e.g. an entire paper, an assessed essay, a chapter of a thesis, an outline of the scope of a project, etc. There's no strict minimum or maximum limit on length.
Regarding length, we highly recommend 3,000 to 5,000 words. (Since you should be able to present it within 30 minutes.)
Please email your title and abstract to the WIP organisers by the end of Sunday before your presentation. E.g. If you're presenting in week 5, your deadline will be the end of Sunday week 4.
The whole point is to use the WIP to gather feedback/suggestions on how to improve your work. Therefore, your work doesn't need to be a watertight or polished piece (at all) but may be a draft or substantial set of notes. You are welcome to share work at all stages of the writing process.
This is an invaluable opportunity for graduates to improve their work by receiving peer-review feedback and tips. The environment is friendly, supportive, and unassessed, thereby making it an excellent opportunity for students to defend their work, brainstorm objections, and (above all) socialise with other PGs and faculty.
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)
Wk 6 - 29th May - Keyu Qiu (MPhil)
Wk 7 - 5th June - Chris Hall (PhD)
Wk 8 - 12th June - Johan Heemskerk (PostDoc)
Wk 9 - 19th June - David Lopez (MPhil)
Wk 10 - 26th June - Ignacio Caroca (PhD)
