William Bell

I completed my PhD in Philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis, specializing in social and political philosophy and applied ethics. 

My primary research project focuses upon issues relating to the enforceability of rights. For instance, some have argued that when you violate another’s rights, you forfeit your own rights against hard treatment (i.e., punishment). However, little attention has been given to the question of whether punishment is the only way to reclaim forfeited rights. I argue for a pluralistic account of rights reclamation, according to which, there are multiple avenues (other than punishment) by which a perpetrator might recapture her lost rights. 

Outside of political philosophy, I also have research interests in the philosophy of well-being, normative ethics, and philosophy of religion. 

You can access my CV here.