Philosophy staff research interests
Browse the research interests of staff in the Philosophy programme.
For detailed research areas and lists of publications, see the profiles of individual staff.
Overview
The Philosophy programme at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington covers a broad range and depth of research. Academic staff are actively involved in the research areas listed below.
Ethics and political philosophy
The University has a strong and varied programme of courses in ethics and political philosophy. In 2010, the internationally recognised Leiter Report described the University as “probably the best place to study value theory in Australasia”. The Philosophy programme has fruitful links with Political Science and International Relations.
Experimental philosophy
Experimental philosophy (or X-phi) is an exciting new movement in philosophy. Practitioners employ scientific methods to help answer philosophical questions. Active areas of research include conceptions of pain and consciousness, causal attributions, happiness and wellbeing, the philosophical temperament, and the demographic makeup of philosophy.
Logic
The University has a proud history in logic. There are several logicians in the Philosophy programme. Max Cresswell, together with George Hughes, is best known for his introductions to modal logic and technical work in that field. Ed Mares’s interests include relevant logic and the relationship between logic and probability
Metaphysics and epistemology
Many of the Philosophy faculty pursue research on topics falling under the heading of metaphysics and epistemology. Both Cei Maslen and Justin Sytsma are interested in the nature of causation. Richard Joyce has published numerous articles on fictionalism.
Philosophy of art
Courses in philosophy of art and aesthetics are offered at all levels. Topics centre around what art is, how we interpret it, why we value it, and how it is related to our social, political, and ethical values. Sondra Bacharach’s research interests concern the ontology of art and contemporary art, but she likes to explore interdisciplinary issues. Past students have worked on topics such as sentimentality and kitsch, street art, Butoh and Japanese aesthetics, and computer art.
Philosophy of science
Areas of interest include the philosophy of biology, the philosophy of social science, the philosophy of psychology, the application of biological theory to problems in ethics, and moral problems that have arisen (and will arise) from the introduction of new biotechnology.