Political and Legal Philosophy
Our political and legal philosophers are interested in both the history of political and legal thought as well as contemporary issues.
We have a particular interest in the question of how to move from abstract political ideals to concrete policy proposals. We have strong links with think tanks and policymakers, advising on how to organise institutional structures to best achieve social egalitarian ideals.
Our staff are members of the York Centre for Political Theory and we have close links with colleagues in the Departments of Law, Politics, and Economics, as well as the School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Project spotlights
We have recently received funding from the Independent Social Research Foundation to fund two research fellowship projects:
People
- Dr Hannah Carnegy-Arbuthnott Social and political philosophy, especially liberalism and libertarianism, self-ownership, property rights, personal rights, and commodification.
- Dr James Clarke Post-Kantian practical philosophy, especially that of Erhard, Fichte and Hegel. Rousseau’s moral psychology and political philosophy and philosophy of law.
- Dr Johan Gustafsson Social contract theory, liberalism and the value of freedom.
- Professor Martin O'Neill Social justice, equality and inequality and various issues at the intersection of political philosophy. Political economy and public policy including taxation, monetary policy, financial and money, corporations and economic governance, work and labour unions.
- Professor Alan Thomas Political philosophy and political economy with the theory of justice, inequality, republicanism.
- Virginia De Biasio (vdb503@york.ac.uk)
Natural Resources Justice and Capabilities (supervisors: Professor Martin O'Neill and Dr Gabriele Badano (Politics))
- Daniel Hind (dceh500@york.ac.uk)
The Limits of Liberal Constitutionalism (supervisors: Professor Martin O'Neill and Professor Alan Thomas)
- Robin Pawlett-Howell (rph512@york.ac.uk)
Phenomenology, Self-Respect, and Justice: Creating a Dialogue Between French Phenomenology and a Rawlsian Approach to Justice (supervisors: Professor Matthew Ratcliffe and Professor Martin O'Neill) - Jane Wilson (jejw501@york.ac.uk) A theory of forgiveness (supervisors: Professor Christian Piller and Professor Martin O'Neill)