Centre for Aesthetic, Moral and Political Philosophy

Centre for Aesthetic, Moral and Political Philosophy

Interdisciplinary research in aesthetic, moral and political philosophy.

Centre for ethics and metaethics

Our research

The Centre for Aesthetic, Moral, and Political Philosophy (CAMP) supports and develops research of the highest quality in practical philosophy at large, with a particular emphasis on foundational questions about normativity, morality, aesthetics, and practical reason.

Topics of current research include:

  • the nature of normativity

  • analysis of normative and evaluative language and thought

  • explanation and justification in normative theory

  • moral and aesthetic knowledge and skepticism

  • moral psychology (especially blame, moral worth, moral luck)

  • moral, aesthetic, and epistemic virtue and vice

  • creativity

  • ethics of war and self-defence

  • distributive justice

The Director of the Centre is Dr Jessica Isserow.

Prhs expertise Our expertise

Our expertise

Read our staff profiles for more information about our Members.

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Parkinson tower at leeds Our projects

Our projects

Explore our research projects.

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Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied Centre and Centre for Metaphysics and Mind

A close relationship is maintained with the Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied Centre (IDEA), particularly around areas of healthcare and environmental ethics, business and leadership ethics, and social and political philosophy. Many of our members work closely with Centre for Metaphysics and Mind (CMM) to foster areas of common interest, including the metaphysics of ethics and art, the analysis of normative language, human agency and its relation to morality, and the nature of moral, aesthetic, and epistemic values and virtues. 

Impact

Earlier work on reasons for action and moral psychology provides theoretical foundations for the work on good judgement, character and integrity done in IDEA. 

Jointly this work is making a large impact on ethics in the workplace through consultancy, development of codes of professional conduct and ethics, and engaging professionals and practitioners in ethical reasoning and judgement.

Research by CAMP members on creativity and on art and morality has provided the basis for a wide range of impact activities, including public workshops and talks at places such as Tate Britain, the National Icelandic Visual Arts Awards and Miami Basel Arts Fair. Members have been interviewed in the popular media, have advised on the Channel 4 series Hidden Talent,  acted as consultants to the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Broadcasting Standards Commission and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.

Events

A weekly research seminar is held during term time, where members of the philosophy community at Leeds and visitors from both the UK and abroad present their work in progress. These seminars are open to all interested parties. In addition, CAMP organises regular workshops, sometimes in collaboration with other research centres in the School.

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