Enquiry: a political Theory Seminar Series

Organisers: Oliver Feeney & Daniel Savery

“the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error.” - J. S. Mill On Liberty

Enquiry is a series of meetings of political theorists and philosophers where various discussion papers are informally presented, supplemented with readings, on topics within the fields of analytic and normative political philosophy.

Although the contemporaneous focus on interdisciplinarity is good, this is a space exclusively for political philosophy.

The various theorists that will be discussed include: John Rawls, Amartya Sen, G. A. Cohen, David Miller, Will Kymlicka, Alasdair MacIntyre, Chandran Kukathas, Philip Pettit, Brian Barry, Michael Sandel, Robert Nozick, Susan Okin, Amy Gutmann, Charles Beitz and Andrew Williams.

The various papers and readings will each focus on a particular issue which is also of significance to the broader field of political philosophy. Each seminar will be organised around a paper which can be of two forms – working papers containing original arguments or review papers of the literature on a particular topic. In both cases, the paper, focussed on a particular topic, will be supplemented with a general reading introducing the background to the topic in question. The reading will be available one week in advance (along with paper itself, if ready).

Each seminar will be from approx. one to two hours with time for presentation and discussion (and wine and informal chat). There are two formats that each seminar can follow. First, there can be single presenter seminars where a paper from 30 mins to 60 mins can be given with 30 to 60 mins for accompanying discussion (length at discretion of presenter once organisers are informed in order to plan overall seminar times). Second, there can be two presenter seminars where two seperate papers are given, each for 30 mins with 30 mins each for discussion (only with agreement of presenters, or at their request, and where both papers with be within a similar theme).

Exact dates and room location for later seminars to be settled, but will be within working week (usually Fridays), reasonable times and on campus.

Participants can just come to listen or join in with discussion. Friendly and constructive discussion appreciated. Tea, coffee, food and wine welcome, tea/coffee making facilities provided and wine/fruit juices/water available for all. For further information or to be added to our circulation list, please email oliver.p.feeneynuigalway.ie  or d.savery2nuigalway.ie  or return here to the Enquiry webpage.

Enquired: Past Political Theory Seminars

For details of our past Enquiry seminars, please click on the following titles for our Enquired pages.

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