The School of Philosophy has a distinctive concentration of expertise in the area of philosophy and the arts. One member of staff focuses almost exclusively on this area, while several others dedicate a good deal of their energy to research in the subject.

The School has particular expertise in the following areas:

  • Aesthetics, with a special focus on Wittgenstein and Kant;
  • Philosophy of Literature and Philosophy of Music;
  • Philosophy, literature and psychopathology;
  • Metaphor;
  • Philosophy of and as Film.

For more information download a detailed description of the School's research, where each member of staff who focuses their research on philosophy and the arts personally introduces a portrait of their current work.

Philosophy enjoys an excellent relationship with several other relevant schools in the university (Music, Literature and Creative Writing, History of Art, Film and TV Studies etc) and, where appropriate, their expertise can be drawn on for graduate supervision.

Members of the School of Philosophy working in this area

Dr Jerry Goodenough has a special interest in both the philosophy of film and film as philosophy. (See Publications and Academia.edu page.)

Dr Rupert Read's interest in the philosophy of literature and film intersects with his interests in the philosophy of psychopathology and in applying Wittgenstein's thought. He is currently working on the conceiving of (some) films as therapeutic works of philosophy, including, unexpectedly, Lord of the Rings and Avatar. (See Publications and Academia.edu page)

Dr Mark Rowe specialises in aesthetics, and the interrelations between philosophy, literature and music. (See Publications and Academia.edu page)

Prof Catherine Rowett works on ancient philosophy. Her interests include Plato's use of fictional characters; Plato's attention to beauty, seduction and desire as key aspects of the philosopher's motivation to seek truth; the relation between form and content in Pre-Socratic philosophy; the use of the imagination in philosophical thinking. (See Publications and Academia.edu page: published as Catherine Osborne until 2011)