The Oxford Philosophy, Law, and Politics Colloquium is a new interdisciplinary colloquium series that brings together theorists from philosophy, law, politics and beyond to discuss works-in-progress by distinguished visiting scholars. Sessions are held approximately thrice yearly – once each term – and a paper for each session is circulated in advance to participants. Those unable to read the paper in advance are nevertheless welcome to attend as a summary of the paper will be given. It is expected that papers by visiting guests will have broad academic and cross-disciplinary appeal. Beginning in 2022-23, the Colloquium is co-convened by Ruth Chang, Cecile Fabre, Kate Greasley, and Alison Hills.
The Colloquium usually takes place in the Old Library at All Souls College from 5:00-7:00 p.m. From 2022-23, we will be attempting to move some sessions to a more family-friendly time slot. To attend any Colloquium, please register by emailing
oxfordPLPevents@gmail.com. If you have questions about any event of the Colloquium, please email ruth.chang@law.ox.ac.uk.
2022-2023 (in 2022-23, some of the PLP Colloquia will move to the more family-friendly time of 2-4p.m.):
October 14, 2022:
Liam Murphy,
Why Tax Wealth?,
Tsilly Dagan (Law) engages with
Liam Murphy (NYU), 2-4p.m. (note the earlier time) Old Library, All Souls
November 28, 2022:
Catharine A. MacKinnon, Exploring Transgender Politics: A Conversation with Catharine A. MacKinnon with commentary by Finn Mackay, Sandra Fredman, and Mischa Shuman, 3-5 p.m. Sir Joseph Hotung Auditorium, Mansfield College; cosponsored with the Feminist Jurisprudence Discussion Group and the Jurisprudence Discussion Group.
Please note that this event was originally scheduled for November 30 but has been moved due to the strike.
November 29, 2022
: Catharine A. MacKinnon, Rape Redefined,
Kate O'Regan (Law) engages with
Catharine A. MacKinnon (U Michigan/Harvard), 5-7p.m., Sir Joseph Hotung Auditorium, Mansfield College; cosponsored with the Bonavero Centre for Human Rights
*CANCELLED* March 2, 2023:
Seth Lazar,
Algorithmic Governance and Political Philosophy: Governing the Algorithmic City,
Helen Mountfield KC (Principal, Mansfield College) engages with
Seth Lazar (Australian National University) 5-7p.m. Old Library, All Souls
May 26, 2023:
Jeremy Waldron,
Self Application,
Jo Wolff (BSG) engages with
Jeremy Waldron (NYU), 5-7p.m. 10 Merton Street Lecture Theatre (note venue).
Check back at this page for further information. The PLP Colloquium will be on hiatus during the academic year 2023-24.
Accompanying each colloquium will be an Oxford PLP Seminar for students during which the paper and any other relevant material to the colloquium will be discussed. Email oxfordPLPevents@gmail.com if you wish to register for the seminar.
October 13, 2022: Seminar with Ruth Chang on Liam Murphy, 2-4p.m., Bostar Hall, University College
November 28, 2022: Seminar with Ruth Chang on Catharine MacKinnon, 11-1p.m., Bostar Hall, University College
*CANCELLED* March 1, 2023: Seminar with Ruth Chang on Seth Lazar, 2-4p.m., Bostar Hall, University College
May 25, 2023: Seminar with Ruth Chang on Jeremy Waldron, 2-4p.m., Bostar Hall, University College
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Past Colloquia
2020-2021
October 30, 2020:
Miranda Fricker, Bernard Williams As A Philosopher of Ethical Freedom,
Alison Hills (Philosophy) engages with Miranda Fricker (CUNY) *Online at Zoom
November 13, 2020:
Samuel Scheffler, Procreation, Immigration, and the Future of Humanity, Thomas Sinclair (Philosophy) engages with
Samuel Scheffler (NYU)
*Online at Zoom
2021-2022
November 11, 2021: Seana Shiffrin, Democratic Politics: Duty Delegation without Abdication, Kate Greasley (Law) engages with Seana Shiffrin (UCLA) *Online at Zoom
January 27 2022: Rob Reich, Mehran Sahami, and Jeremy Weinstein, Joint Event with the Ethics in AI Institute at Oxford - book discussion of System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How to Reboot with authors Rob Reich, Mehran Sahami, and Jeremy Weinstein. Comments by Vincent Conitzer, Bryce Goodman, and Helene Landemore. *Online here.
February 24, 2022: Nomy Arpaly, On Being Blameless Among One’s Contemporaries, Alison Hills (Philosophy) engages with Nomy Arpaly (Brown) *Online at Zoom
May 5, 2022: Imani Perry, African American Narrative Jurisprudence, Sophie Smith (Politics) engages with Imani Perry (Princeton) Old Library, All Souls College - CANCELLED DUE TO SPEAKER ILLNESS
May 27, 2022: Sally Haslanger, Structural Injustice: Managing Social Coordination in Complex Systems, Rachel Fraser (Philosophy) engages with Sally Haslanger (MIT), Old Library, All Souls College
Thanks are due to the Hewlett Foundation for funding that makes the PLP Colloquium Series possible.