Departmental news

We are delighted to announce that Dr Lucy Campbell has been appointed as an Assistant Professor in Philosophy. Lucy will take up her new role from 1 September 2019. Lucy is currently already with the Philosophy Department, on a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship, which she will retain.

Lucy completed her PhD at Cambridge University in 2015, and has previously held teaching positions at Oxford (2017-18) and in Edinburgh (2015-16). She also completed an Analysis Studentship, also based in Oxford (2016-17).

Lucy's research interests are in philosophy of mind and action, in epistemology and - especially - in the intersection of these areas. She is currently developing her research on action-theory, particularly in relation to Elizabeth Anscombe.

We are delighted to announce that Sameer Bajaj has been appointed as Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy, and will take up his post in September 2019. Sameer received his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Arizona and his JD in Law from Columbia University Law School. He was previously Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, USA. Sameer's main research interests lie in political and moral philosophy. He is currently undertaking research into why and how citizens of large, pluralistic democracies ought to participate in politics. He is also working on a project that examines how the demands of achieving collective ends distribute among individuals. Sameer's work has been published widely, including in Philosophical Studies and in Politics, and Philosophy and Economics. This autumn, Sameer will be teaching a new module on Democracy and Political Authority.

Dr David Woods, Teaching Fellow in the Philosophy Department, has received a commendation in the Warwick Awards for Teaching Excellence 2019 (WATE).

Chris Noonan, a postgraduate student in the Department, is a winner in the Warwick Awards for Teaching Excellence for Postgraduates Who Teach category (WATE PGR).

Many congratulations to both David and Chris from all our students and colleagues for their well-deserved accolades, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to teaching in the Philosophy Department over the past year.

The winners of this year's undergraduate Philosophy in the Wild' essay competition are Maya Kokerov (winner), Euan McGinty (runner up) and Neville Birdi (runner up). The judges were impressed by the quality of all the essays submitted, and the choice was a difficult one. However, the essays produced by Maya, Euan and Neville were selected for the way they imaginatively interpreted the brief, and how all three pieces of work demonstrated the importance and value of philosophy in the world today. The winners were awarded vouchers worth £100 (first prize) and £50 (runners up) respectively.

Maya (first prize), applied metaphysical ideas on personhood to the contemporary issue of social media: "I was interested in tackling the common idea that the internet is solely used to express superficial aspects of our lives - but it is possible to use social media smartly if we think about it in philosophical terms".

Euan channelled his interest in the Philosophy of Language to explore the way certain words and terms can influence our perception of the world, relating particularly to environmentalism. He focused on John Baird Callicott's discussion about the historical baggage associated with the term 'wilderness'. Says Euan: "my aim was to apply some of the knowledge I've gained from studying philosophy and put it in the context of issues that concern me".

Neville's inspiration came directly from Professor Kimberley Brownlee's lectures on Ideas of Freedom, and particularly 'freedom of thought' and 'freedom of expression'. Writing the essay allowed Neville to draw links between the philosophical theory and the real world: "everyone now knows we live in a 'post-truth' and 'fake news' age, so when better to discuss the value of thought, expression, and the press?" he says.

Congratulations to all three winners on their achievement from everyone in the Department!

Professor Keith Ansell-Pearson will feature in a forthcoming edition of In Our Time, to be broadcast on BBC Radio Four on Thursday 9 May 2019 at 0900. Professor Ansell-Pearson, who specialises in modern European philosophy and is the author of monographs on Bergson and Nietzsche, will discuss Bergson and the Question of Time with Melvyn Bragg and his fellow expert guests.

In Our Time is BBC Radio Four's flagship discussion programme exploring the History of Ideas, and has been presented by Melvyn Bragg since its inception in 1998. The programme's reputation and cultural impact is such that it is claimed to have "transformed the landscape for serious ideas at peak listening time".

With a focus on real-world problems and debates, Issues in Political Theory is a clear and engaging introduction to political theory and how it is applied to address a range of global challenges. Expert contributors ably introduce students to important concepts, key thinkers, and major texts in political theory, while extended case studies at the end of each chapter show how to apply theoretical ideas to real contemporary issues and debates. The text is supported by online resources (which include additional case studies intended to give students confidence in using theory to shed light on key issues) and a range of additional teaching and learning resources.

The Philosophy Department welcomed Professor Etienne Balibar as its distinguished Guest Speaker on 11 February 2019, as part of the new research programme 'Philosophy in a Time of Crisis'. Professor Balibar's Public Lecture focused on 'Circulation and Hospitality as Fundamental Rights', and was recorded. It can now be viewed via the project website. www.philosophyx.co.uk

Summary Overview of Lecture:

As migrants and refugees in increasing numbers are subjected to extreme violence in their attempts at crossing borders to reach a more livable place, a fundamental reflection is needed to update the concepts which frame mankind’s treatment of its own mobility. This includes a critical return on the question of the “law of population” of capitalism, but also a juridical elaboration of the rights of circulation and hospitality which articulate territory, citizenship, and community. At stake, ultimately, is a political transformation of the world into a place where everyone can live a decent life.

Etienne Balibar is Emeritus Professor at Paris X Nanterre and Anniversary Chair of Modern European Philosophy at Kingston University, London. He is an internationally recognized political philosopher and critical thinker, a leading voice in the Marxist tradition, and the author of Spinoza and Politics, The Philosophy of Marx and co-author of Race, Nation and Class and Reading Capital. In these, and many other seminal works, Professor Balibar has addressed fundamental questions such as racism, the notion of border, whether a European citizenship is possible or desirable; violence, identity and emancipation.

Professor Quassim Cassam features in The Irish Times of 5 March 2019, where he speaks to journalist Joe Humphreys in the 'Unthinkable Guest' interview series. Professor Cassam expands on recent examples of 'Intellectual Vice' from Brexit to the Birmingham Six, themes which are explored in his new book 'Vices of the Mind', published by Oxford University Press (2019).

See full interview here:https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/intellectual-vices-from-brexit-to-the-birmingham-six-1.3809754

The Department of Philosophy is excited to announce its participation in the Warwick Pre-University Summer School (Tuesday 2 July - Friday 12 July 2019). The Pre-University Summer School offers students an enriching opportunity to study at the University of Warwick for an exciting ten-night, fully inclusive, residential Summer School.

Philosophy is teaming up with the Departments of Law, Psychology, and Liberal Arts to offer A Taste of Social Sciences. This is a course aimed at motivated 16-18 year olds who are thinking about studying for a degree in Philosophy or other social sciences and wishing to enjoy a truly memorable summer experience:

Students will enjoy:

• A choice of two courses taught by top Warwick faculty: 'A Taste of Social Sciences' or 'Introduction to Economics and Finance'
• Engaging with like-minded peers from around the world
• Outstanding guest speakers
• Personal effectiveness training, including leadership and communications skills
• Preparing for University in the UK
• Living on the beautiful and self-contained Warwick campus for eight nights
• Spending two nights in London, and a visit to the London School of Economics
• An informative industry visit
• Visiting the City of Oxford and an Oxford College

Click to learn more about the Warwick Pre-University Summer School and our A Taste of Social Sciences programme.

Professor Cassam's new book, 'Vices of the Mind' published by Oxford University Press, examines human character traits, attitudes and thinking styles ('Epistemic Vices') which prevent us from gaining, keeping or sharing knowledge. Professor Cassam, who is pioneering this new area of philosophical research, draws on recent events to analyse the nature of Truth in politics; how political facts can be highly contested, and how we can try to overcome self-ignorance through a number of self-improvement strategies. 'Vices of the Mind' also elaborates on the concept of 'epistemic insouciance', a term Professor Cassam has developed to describe a new intellectual vice which he identifies as a product of today's toxic political climate.

Professor Quassim Cassam Interviewed on BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking Programme

Professor Cassam was the central guest of the BBC's flagship Radio 3 late evening cultural engagement programme, Free Thinking, broadcast on 7 February 2019 at 10pm. In a live round-table debate hosted by Matthew Sweet, Professor Cassam spoke at length about self-knowledge, intellectual vices and conspiracy theories - themes which he examines in greater detail in his new book 'Vices of the Mind'.

See link here to listen to the programme: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002cf0

'The process of "rubbishing" tries to make people doubt their own knowledge—whether it's about smoking or the President's tweets’ argues Professor Cassam in the recent edition of Prospect Magazine: see here: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/doubt-is-our-product-what-trumps-political-spinning-has-in-common-with-the-tobacco-industry

Professor Cassam is interviewed by Richard Marshall in 3:AM Magazine: Vices of the Mind: Fake News, Conspiracy Theories, etc…https://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/vices-of-the-mind-fake-news-conspiracy-theories-bullshit-etc/