Philosophy

Staff and students fight to save famed unit, transferred from Middlesex University in 2010

If the best books aren’t REFable, UK research will appear artificially weak, say Heather Widdows, Fiona Macpherson and Simon Kirchin 

Rigorously and open-mindedly exploring ‘what if’ questions is more necessary than ever in a troubled world, say Brian Ball and Patrycja Kaszynska

It is surely not Gradgrindian to ask whether a subject can do without a corpus of factual knowledge and still expect students to study it, says Colin Swatridge

Cornell University philosopher Kate Manne is calling out the discrimination – often blatant – faced by scholars deemed overweight

Posters calling philosopher a ‘fascist’ appear on campus after she backed event branded ‘dehumanising’ by her boss

‘Ideological capture’ of research and clampdowns on dissent are spreading, argues Peter Boghossian

Students want to understand the complexities of their own relationships, and the philosophy of love has set its heart on doing so, says Luke Brunning

The London School of Economics political theorist reflects on why her childhood memoir Free has been embraced by readers across the world

Analysis suggests philosophy professor’s old department may net as much as £333,000 from the activities that saw her targeted by activists

After fighting off attempt to expel them, academics resign from learned academy over ‘untoward political focus’

International community ‘should take in academics unable to continue teaching in Hong Kong’, say scholars

The philosopher and author of The Fourfold Remedy: Epicurus and the Art of Happiness on Asterix, architecture, Aristippus and discovering the power of ideas

Robert Eaglestone reflects on the limits of hagiography

Gender-critical philosopher says ‘draconian’ measures are required as universities have failed to protect freedom of expression

Peter Osborne is intrigued by an account of the political and philosophical ideas that shaped the West German left

Role focused on supporting staff and handling complaints, but critics express concern about potential threats to academic freedom

A physicist and two philosophers reflect on the value of their respective disciplines

Martin Cohen takes issue with a polemic that seems to skate over some of the deeper dimensions of logic and scientific method

Lincoln Allison enjoys an overview of the great political thinkers very different from the kind he grew up with

A look over the shoulders of our scholar-reviewers

Tributes paid to a ‘top scholar in Greek philosophy’ noted for her ‘strong sense of justice’ and ‘distaste for shallowness and group thought’

Students’ task is never to read authors uncritically but to fully grasp all sides of every argument, says Eric Heinze

Michael Marinetto applauds an attempt to consider the challenges of our technological future without lapsing into moral panic

Editors of Journal of Controversial Ideas hope to puncture ‘cancel culture’, but other scholars warn researchers ‘can’t stop being an accountable moral agent’

A look over the shoulders of our scholar-reviewers 

Stephen Mumford enjoys a brilliant analysis of what has gone wrong with the world’s most popular sport, which is less convincing on solutions

Martin Cohen finds many insights and a dose of logic in a book about brain science that aims to help us think better

Rebecca Buxton is thrilled by a rich and accessible collection that challenges the age-old assumption of male-dominated philosophy

Joe Moran appreciates a bold attempt to illuminate the roots of why we are so unhappy

Tributes paid to acclaimed philosopher who always ‘gave of herself for the good of the group’

University broadens free speech exclusions on request of gender-diverse community

Jane O’Grady is frustrated by a minutely calibrated study of centuries of reflections on eroticism

John Shand wonders to what extent deep thinking has a place in our erotic lives

Holberg Prize winner wants major reforms in college drinking culture and elite university sport

This isn’t the 18th century. Email and phones exist. So why is so much academic discussion still left to journals, asks Julian Baggini

Jane O’Grady grapples with an ambitious attempt to rethink the development of philosophy from the ancient Greeks until today

Constantine Sandis is intrigued by a polemic exploring the failures of humans compared with their fellow animals

Ministry warns researchers against ‘degrading’ nation in pursuit of international journal publication

Devorah Baum applauds a timely attempt to take on the naysayers and give the French philosopher his due

Editor of new collection showcases neglected major female thinkers going all the way back to ancient Greece and ancient China

The increasing social status of the ‘highly credentialed’ risks breeding populist resentment, according to renowned political philosopher

Robert Eaglestone applauds a bold, although not wholly successful, attempt to reorientate our thinking in the wake of trauma

David Gunkel enjoys a stimulating polemic about why we need to reflect on what ‘getting back to normal’ means in the wake of the coronavirus crisis

Jane O’Grady wishes this study of ideological inconsistencies had gone a bit deeper

If they learn how to engage more effectively, there could be ways for ethicists to bring their insights to bear on major policy debates

Michael Marinetto enjoys a bold attempt to challenge the scientific consensus about consciousness

Deborah Bowman discusses the need to challenge medical students’ assumptions about patients with ‘underlying health conditions’

In contrast to other countries, philosophers, historians, theologians and jurists have played a major role advising the state as it seeks to loosen restrictions

Book of the week: Richard Larschan enjoys a wide-ranging survey of the deep intellectual insights and disputes thrown up by the experience of travel 

Geoffrey Cantor praises a bold historical overview that offers useful pointers to how we can face up to the technological challenges of today

Toby Ord urges academics to reflect far more deeply on the risks of everything from asteroids to rogue artificial intelligence

Book of the week: Constantine Sandis admires a subtle and judicious analysis of the communications skills of our fellow creatures

John Shand has mixed feelings about a book using horror film scenarios to teach moral philosophy

Book of the week: Lynne Segal applauds a bold attempt to forge a comprehensive philosophy of resistance

The grandee philosopher talks to Matthew Reisz about trust, trustworthiness and why an overreaction to logical positivism is to blame for Facebook’s excesses

Furore over Oxford doctoral student’s journal article reignites debate over the limits of free speech

Erin Maglaque enjoys a comprehensive new study of a central figure in Italian humanism

Book of the week: Jane O’Grady is impressed but not wholly convinced by an attempt to solve one of the most celebrated philosophical challenges

Malaysian historian spies signs that liberal arts’ 200-year ebb may be ending as unpredictability of employment puts paid to utilitarian education