I have taught a broad range of courses at UCL, LSE and Cambridge, including on ethics, political philosophy, metaphysics, philosophy of science, philosophy & public policy, and the methodology of political theory. My teaching has been nominated repeatedly for student-led awards, including, for the last three years in a row, the UCL Student Choice Award for Inspiring Teaching.
The Ethics and Politics of Emotion (UG)
This course tackles a central political and social issue of our times: the role of emotions such as hatred, anger, patriotism, shame, and offence in our politics and in our society. Moral appraisals of the emotions and debates over their political significance have become popular subjects in moral and political philosophy. In this course, we will investigate questions such as: What, if anything, is wrong with publicly shaming someone? Should we feel anger at injustice? Is contempt the right response to racism? Are people taking offence too easily these days? Is it immoral to be amused by a sexist joke? Is patriotism a good thing? What good is hope in contexts of oppression? Informed by contemporary work in psychology, ethics, feminist philosophy, and political philosophy, this course explores the ethics and politics of a range of emotions from anger, hatred, contempt, shame, and offence, to (patriotic) love, hope, and amusement.
The Ethics and Politics of the Social Sciences (UG)
Are the social sciences inferior to the natural sciences? Should citizens, scientists, or the market decide what gets researched? Are some topics ethically, or politically, out of bounds for scientific research? How should science guide policy - and what would evidence-based policy look like? Does everything have its price? What should the relationship between political philosophy and political science be like? The course has two overall aims: first, to encourage critical reflection on the social sciences and, second, to explore the relationship of ethics and political philosophy to the social sciences.
Peer Assisted Learning (MA) (for 2025/6)
This is an innovative and interactive introduction to cutting-edge research, connected to two series of visiting speakers, the Political Theory Workshop and the Dworkin Colloquia. This module teaches students to analyse and challenge academic papers; offers the opportunity to engage in dialogue with leading researchers; and trains students to design their independent research projects.
Contemporary Political Philosophy II: Social Justice and Equality (MA) (on pause 2025/6)
This course explores some of the key contemporary debates in political philosophy over justice and equality. Topics include equality of opportunity, socialism, relational egalitarianism, epistemic injustice, reparations, taxation, and structural injustice. We will explore questions like, why, if at all, should we redistribute wealth in society? Is equality something we ought to aim for – and if so, what kind of equality? What is wrong with capitalism? Should states pay reparations? And who is to blame for structural injustice?
PHD Teaching:
Current students:
1. Kathryn Brewer. First supervisor (Sept 2025 -). Disgust.
2. Robin Lockyer Von Dorrien. First supervisor (Sept 2024 -). States and Responsibilities for Colonialism.
Past students:
Hannah McHugh PhD project: Power to the People: Agents’ Role in and Responsibility for Domination.
Matilda Carter PhD project: Dementia and Social Equality.
Jennifer Brown (second supervisor) PhD project: Justice and Marriage
John Wilesmith (second supervisor) PhD project: Substantive Political Equality, Firm Size and the Choice of Social System.
I'm interested in hearing from PhD candidates with a strong background in philosophy (including an MA/MPhil or equivalent in philosophy or political theory), especially working on projects related to:
Equality (social/relational)
Emotions
Philosophy of social norms and/or the ethics and politics of social interactions (e.g. microaggressions, attention, civility)
Parenting, infertility
Do get in touch before making an application.