Research group links

• Centre for Political Thought

Research interests

My research interests lie in the history of political ideas and contemporary political philosophy/theory.

The main focus of my research is the intellectual tradition of modern liberalism – construed very broadly, and from the seventeenth century to the present – and its central political concepts, theorists, and normative (ethical and institutional) commitments. I brought these interests together in my first book, on the political philosophy of Thomas Paine. In other published papers, I have looked at philosophical understandings of various moral and political concepts such as human rights, property, equality, freedom, and impartiality, as understood by historical and contemporary liberal theorists, from John Locke and William Godwin to John Rawls and Richard Rorty. I have also written a bit on philosophical issues related to historical interpretation as well as an introductory book on the concept of property in political theory.

I am currently working on a book about Richard Rorty's conception of political hope.

Research students

Modules taught

• POL2059 - Political Thought of Modernity
• POL2123 - The Idea of Human Rights
• POL3283 - Hope and Politics