Centre for Aesthetic, Moral and Political Philosophy

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:

• Topics of current research include:

• the nature of normativity

• analysis of normative and evaluative language and thought

• explanation and justification in normative theory

• systematic theorising about normative ethics, including comprehensive moral theories, and explanation and justification in normative ethics

• the nature of rights and wronging

• normative powers, especially promising and consent

• ethics of war and self-defence

• moral psychology 

• distributive justice

• democratic theory

• Chinese moral and political philosophy

• moral, political, and epistemic value of art.

CAMP has a supportive, lively and active research environment. The centre hosts a regular fortnightly research seminar where both its members and invited speakers present work in progress. Members often organise conferences and workshops on themes related to the centre’s research specialisms, as well as the occasional wine and cheese night and research retreat! 

The centre is a basin of attraction for researchers far and wide. In addition to CAMP's core membership–comprising staff and PGRs working on a broad range of issues across value theory—it is common for visiting research fellows and staff specialising in other sub-disciplines to participate in the centre’s activities as well. 

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.

Research by CAMP members on gender/gender identity have also yielded impact activities, such as the ‘Stories of Gender in West Yorkshire’ exhibition at Leeds City Museum, which was attended by over 400 people over two days.