Research

There are two main areas of research expertise in Philosophy at UWS. First, there is a strong research concentration on philosophy and interpretation. This includes the relation of literature and philosophy, deconstruction, and aesthetics. Second, political philosophy is also very strongly represented. There is expertise in rights discourses, critical theory, Marxism, environmental philosophy, political theology, and sovereignty.
 
Briefly, the areas of expertise of the members of Philosophy@UWS are as follows:

• Sabrina Achilles’ philosophical focus is on ethics and aesthetics in relation to literature, concentrating specifically on the work of Deleuze and Guattari.
• Paul Alberts looks at the ethical implications of environmental issues.
• Charles Barbour, an expert on Marx, teaches and writes aesthetics and sovereignty.
• Chris Eagle examines the synthesis of philosophy, literature, and linguistics especially in relation to theories of the perfect language from Plato to Heidegger.
• Chris Fleming is a world authority on the work of Rene Girard and is also interested in the philosophy of science.
• John Hadley’s work focuses on ethical issues and in particular animal rights. 
• Alex Ling is an expert on the relation of philosophy and cinema, and has written extensively on the French philosopher Alain Badiou.
• Sally Macarthur explores the intersections between music and cultural and feminist theories.
• Scott Mann has been researching legal philosophy, bioethics and business ethics.
• Chris Peterson’s research focuses on the intersection of literature and philosophy, with a particular emphasis on Derrida, race, and animality.
• Lorraine Sim works on the relation between literature and philosophy, with a particular focus on modernism, gender and theories of modernity and the everyday.
• Michael Symonds’ research uses social theory and philosophy, especially Adorno and Weber, to understand areas of Australian society.
• Anthony Uhlmann is an expert on the way that modernism has been influenced by philosophy.
• Dimitris Vardoulakis writes on the relation of literature and philosophy, theories of sovereignty and the work of Spinoza.
• Allison Weir works in the areas of feminist and gender theory, continental philosophy, critical race theory, and multiculturalism.
• Jessica Whyte's research focuses on contemporary continental philosophy, marxism, sovereignty and critical accounts of human rights.  
• Magdalena Zolkos concentrates on trauma theory, theories of subjectivity and post-structuralism.

For more details, please visit the individual staff web-pages.