David Bather Woods
Profile
I am a Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Philosophy with academic responsibilities for admissions, outreach and widening participation. I am currently acting as Director of Student Experience and Progression. I have taught a wide range of topics in philosophy, mainly in the history of philosophy and the philosophy of value, particularly ethics and aesthetics. My research focuses on the 19th century German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, especially his pessimism, but recently also his moral and political philosophy.
Current Teaching
- PH3A7 - Philosophy of Evil (Term 1)
- PH368 - Philosophy of Religion (Term 2)
Winner of a Warwick Award for Teaching Excellence 2021
Publications
'Schopenhauer's Sexual Ethics'. In Schopenhauer's Moral Philosophy, edited by Patrick Hassan. (Routledge, forthcoming)
'The Standard Interpretation of Schopenhauer's Compensation Argument for Pessimism: A Non-Standard Variant', European Journal of Philosophy. Forthcoming.
‘Seriously Bored: Schopenhauer on Solitary Confinement’, British Journal for the History of Philosophy (2019) 27 (5): 959-978.
‘Schopenhauer on the State and Morality’. In The Palgrave Schopenhauer Handbook, edited by Sandra Shapshay. Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.
‘Großbritannien’. In Schopenhauer-Handbuch, edited by Daniel Schubbe and Matthias Koßler. J.B. Metzler Verlag, 2014 (1st Ed.), 2018 (2nd Ed.).
Online
'What Arthur Schopenhauer learned about genius at the asylum' (Psyche magazine)
'The Promise of Pessimism' (Institute of Art and Ideas)
'Resilience' (The Forum)
'Schopenhauer on Compassion' (Philosophy Bites)
'The semi-satisfied life' (Aeon)
'The best books on Arthur Schopenhauer' (Five Books)
'The History of Philosophy: its value and limitations' and 'Schopenhauer on Boredom, Loneliness and Compassion' (Common Room Philosophy)
Work in progress
Books
The Schopenhauerian Mind (in the Routledge Philosophical Minds book series), co-edited with Timothy Stoll.
Chapters
'Schopenhauer's Political Philosophy'. In The Schopenhaurian Mind (see above).
'Proust and Schopenhauer'. In The Proustian Mind, edited by Anna Elsner and Tom Stern. Routledge, forthcoming.
Administration
- Acting Director of Student Experience and Progression
- Outreach and Widening Participation Lead
- Teachers and school leaders are welcome and encouraged to inquire about outreach and engagement with Warwick Philosophy Department
Contact
Email:
David dot Bather dot Woods at warwick dot ac dot uk
Office: S2.38 (Social Sciences)
Office hours (Term 1, 2021/22):
Thursday 9.00–10.00 & 12.00–13.00
