Departmental news

Professor Fabienne Peter was a guest on a recent edition of BBC Radio 4’s ‘In Our Time’, hosted by Melvyn Bragg. In this programme (broadcast 19/1/2023), Professor Peter and other expert speakers discuss the American philosopher John Rawls, and explore his Theory of Justice. Listen on BBC Sounds:

BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, Rawls' Theory of Justice

Professor Quassim Cassam spent 7-11 November at NYU Abu Dhabi, visiting as their Distinguished Philosopher-in-Residence 2022. The university, which supports almost 3000 international undergraduate students, was built almost a decade ago and is located on a beautifully landscaped campus on Saadiyat Island, close to the spectacular Abu Dhabi Louvre. See here: Events - NYU Abu Dhabi

 Professor Cassam says: “In my five days in Abu Dhabi, I participated in two research seminars on my work, two undergraduate classes on my book on Conspiracy Theories, and gave a public lecture on Extremism.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGQi1hQb4vU&ab_channel=NYUADInstitute).

I also got to spend a day dune bashing in the desert (that is, driven up and down sand dunes at high speed). Silly but fun! The day in the desert ended with a climb (on foot!) up a steep dune to look at the sunset and dinner at a desert camp, with a belly dancer in attendance”.

Congratulations to Adam Neal, a graduate of the Department of Philosophy, who has been awarded a prestigious Institute of Advanced Study (IAS) Fellowship for 2022/23. Adam says:

“I’m really excited to be joining the IAS. Over the next year I’m looking forward to developing my research portfolio through preparing my PhD research for publications and organising an interdisciplinary workshop (around April 2023) which seeks to explore the nature of sociability, particularly focussing on sociability in the context of work and education. I’m currently organising 2 online book launch events for my co-edited collection (along with Kimberley Brownlee and David Jenkins, see link below), due to take place on 2^nd December and 15^th December. Additionally, I’m hoping to get involved in the Editorial Board of the Exchanges journal and to develop new interdisciplinary research networks.”

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/being-social-9780198871194?facet_narrowbypubdate_facet=Next%203%20months&lang=de&cc=ie

Philosophy Undergraduate Kenneth Quek has had a paper published in the journal Logos, an undergraduate philosophy journal edited by Cornell University in the USA. Kenneth’s paper is called ‘Forgiveness: A Descriptive Analysis’. Kenneth summarises it as follows:

 “Forgiveness features as a huge part of our moral lives, but very little work has been done to figure out just what it is and what it accomplishes. My paper aims to describe what, on a fundamental level, is involved when one forgives someone else.”

 The paper was awarded the Top Prize out of 91 submissions and was the product of Kenneth’s Undergraduate Research Support Scheme (URSS) project on Forgiveness undertaken with Professor Fabienne Peter in the summer of 2021. Congratulations to Kenneth on this noteworthy achievement. Read the issue here:

 https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/6/8621/files/2022/09/Logos-2022-Journal.pdf

The Philosophy Department is pleased to announce that it has been successful in its renewal of an Athena Swan Bronze Award in recognition of its continuing commitment to support and transform gender equality in higher education and research. The Bronze award has been conferred for five years, in line with recommendations from the Athena Swan Steering Group, and will be valid until 30 September 2027.

The Athena Swan Gender Equality Charter, founded in 2005, is an internationally recognised gender equality initiative that celebrates good practices in higher education and research institutions towards the advancement of gender equality: Representation, Progression and Success for all.

The Department of Philosophy has been ranked in an impressive 5th place in The Good University Guide for the UK, produced by The Times and The Sunday Times for 2023. This achievement reflects the Department’s continuing excellence in teaching and research, and its ongoing commitment to enhancing the student experience in the study of philosophy at Warwick.

The University of Warwick is also named as one of the best UK universities in the 2023 Guide. Further details here:

https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/university_of_warwick_named_as_one_of_uks_best_in_the_2023_good_university_guide1

The Philosophy Department is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Tobias Keiling, who joins the Department as Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Centre for Research in Post-Kantian Philosophy. Dr Keiling was previously a lecturer at the University of Bonn, Germany, and an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at Somerville College, Oxford. Dr Keiling’s Research interests include Hermeneutics and Phenomenology, particularly Heidegger, as well as Metaphysics and Epistemology both in the history of philosophy and contemporary analytic debates.

Professor Quassim Cassam has been elected Fellow of The British Academy in recognition of his outstanding scholarship in the field of Philosophy. Each year The British Academy awards Fellowships to a select number of individuals who have received distinction in any branch of the Humanities and Social Sciences, and Professor Cassam is one of only 52 elections from UK Universities to be announced in 2022.

The British Academy is one of the UK’s most prestigious institutions, seeking to promote the Humanities and Social Sciences by investing in research, engaging the public, and influencing policy. It was established by Royal Charter in 1902 and celebrates its 120^th anniversary this year.

Professor Quassim Cassam FBA | The British Academy

A Black Voices Network event took place on 17 June 2022, which was the first open invitation, in person, alumni careers event, held with the assistance and support of the Department of Philosophy.

A distinguished panel of former alumni, including Vera Okojie (FinTech Analyst at Visa / Founder of Career Confident), Hodo Hassan (Policy Advisor in the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs), Shore Delano (Digital Project Manager at Magnum Photos/ founder of diverse theatre platform 'The Rendition'), and Gabrielle Oke (actor and visual artist) spoke engagingly to an enthusiastic audience about their career paths and achievements, and the challenges they have encountered on the way to their success. The session was chaired by Jude Folorunso (President of Warwick Philosophy Black Voices Network) and was supported by the Warwick Philosophy Black Voices Network with the generous support of Warwick Enterprise and the Innovation 2022 campaign. It is hoped that this event will become a regular feature in the academic calendar.