The Department of Philosophy is proud to report that it has been ranked in an impressive 6^th place for teaching Philosophy courses in the UK, in a League Table just published by The Guardian for 2022. This tremendous result maintains the Department’s 2021 ranking, and reflects Warwick’s continuing commitment to outstanding teaching, cutting-edge excellence in research, and an empowering environment for students to learn and grow.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2021/sep/11/best-uk-universities-for-philosophy-league-table

The Philosophy Department is delighted to announce that it will be joined by two new members of staff, Dr Nadine Elzein and Dr Andrew Huddleston, who will both take up their posts in September 2021.

Dr Elzein’s research interests focus on ethics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of mind, as well as problems relating to free will, determinism, moral responsibility, and retributive practices. Dr Elzein studied at University College London, followed by posts at King’s College London, the University of Southampton, UCL, and the University of Oxford.

Dr Huddleston joins the Department as Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Research in Post-Kantian Philosophy, and has previously taught at Birkbeck College, University of London and at Exeter College, Oxford. Research interests include the history of post-Kantian philosophy (esp. Nietzsche; German Idealism, Early German Romanticism, and the Frankfurt School) as well as in aesthetics, social philosophy, and ethics.

Professor Quassim Cassam’s ongoing research into philosophical subjects which connect to urgent global issues continues with a new volume on extremism published by Routledge in September 2021.

Professor Cassam’s authoritative narrative provides an incisive and thought-provoking discussion of extremism in its many differing forms, and uses real world examples to address a range of pressing questions, including: what is extremism and what are its different forms? How does extremism differ from fanaticism and fundamentalism?  How does one become an extremist? How should the notions of radicalization, counter-radicalization and deradicalization be understood?

‘Extremism: A Philosophical Analysis’ offers the reader a clear and highly accessible overview of a controversial subject and its evolving threat to the world today.

Extremism: A Philosophical Analysis - 1st Edition - Quassim Cassam - (routledge.com)

Professor Fabienne Peter will take up a Faculty Fellowship at The Centre for Ethics and Public Affairs at The Murphy Institute, based at Tulane University, Ohio, USA, for the academic year 2021-22. The Murphy Institute is an interdisciplinary research centre focusing on economic, moral and political issues. The Fellowship will allow Professor Peter to continue her research in moral and political philosophy as well as participating in a varied programme of lectures, seminars, conferences.

The Philosophy Department features significantly in the WATE 2021 competition, with three impressive Award Winners.

David Bather Woods received a Staff Award, and both Johan Heemskerk and Jack Shardlow received Awards in the PGR category. All three Department Winners have excelled in the difficult times of the past year by brilliantly implementing an imaginative and thoughtful approach to Learning and Engagement - developing and enhancing the academic experience of their students and providing a strong and sustained network of support and community - despite all the challenges created by the pandemic.

Many congratulations to David, Johan and Jack on this well- deserved accolade - formal recognition of three outstanding contributors to the Philosophy Department and its teaching commitments throughout 2020/2021.

Warwick Awards for Teaching Excellence

Professor Christoph Hoerl is interviewed, along with fellow physicists and psychologists, by Armando Iannucci in this fascinating programme which explores the mystery of why time seems to speed up as we get older, and how our perception of time passing is distorted by both our emotions and memory. How does our concept of “now” impact on our comprehension of the past and future? Listen here to discover more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000w9tg

 Professor Keith Ansell-Pearson has been appointed Honorary President of The Friedrich Nietzsche Society, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Nietzsche studies over the course of his illustrious academic career. Keith launched the Nietzsche Society of Great Britain (as the Friedrich Nietzsche Society was originally called) in April 1990, accompanied by a hugely successful inaugural conference, supported by and held at the Philosophy Department at the University of Essex. The first edition of the Journal of Nietzsche Studies subsequently appeared in Spring 1990; Keith has continued as a long-serving contributor and member of the Editorial Board. Keith has published widely, and to great acclaim, on both the life and work of Friedrich Nietzsche, and has received many accolades in recognition of his Nietzschean scholarship. Further details here: https://www.fns.org.uk/honorary-president.html

Warwick Food GRP and the Centre for Research in Philosophy, Literature and the Arts (CRPLA) seek contributions for the WARWICK DINNER PARTY - a creative project to highlight different food cultures, memories, ideas and goals, to be displayed on campus in July 2021. Deadline for brief proposals: 1 June, 5.00 pm.

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/philosophy/research/researchcentres/phillit/currentevents/dinnerparty/

Sponsored by the Warwick Food GRP and CRPLA.

Professor Quassim Cassam features in a newly revised online article, The Best Philosophy Books for Beginners, which has been produced by www.thereadinglists.com – a website dedicated to encouraging people worldwide to read more books. The list of recommended Philosophy titles has been updated and now includes more book nominations selected by an extended panel of philosophy experts. Quassim Cassam’s contribution is on Mortal Questions by Thomas Nagel. The article can be found here: https://www.thereadinglists.com/best-philosophy-books-for-beginners/ 

Professor Fabienne Peter has been invited to give the prestigious Wittgenstein Lecture Series for 2021 (28 June – 2 July) at the University of Bayreuth. Professor Peter will explore aspects of The Grounds of Political Legitimacy in a series of five lectures. The Wittgenstein Lectures were inaugurated in 1987. Every year, an internationally recognised philosopher is invited to present a week of lectures and colloquia. All lectures are open to the public. Further details here: https://www.phil.uni-bayreuth.de/en/events/wittgenstein/index.html.