NEIL W. WILLIAMS
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I am an interdisciplinary philosopher specializing in environmental philosophy, moral and political philosophy, and the history of philosophy. The different strands of my research are unified by an interest in the ways that the affective dimensions of our experience shape our beliefs and practices. ​

My current projects - funded by the AHRC and British Academy - are interdisciplinary investigations into the rights of nature. They focus on how this movement might both empower local communities and challenge our exploitative relationships with the natural world. 

Inspired by American pragmatism, I am committed to the idea that concepts find their meaning in practical application, and that research is best conducted within a diverse community of inquirers. For this reason, I act as an editor for the journal Public Humanities, and participate in public engagement whenever possible. 

I work as an Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Southampton. There you can find me teaching​ on topics including: environmental philosophy, ethics, and the history of philosophy.

When I'm not doing philosophy, I spend my time running, reading, playing games, and (recently) painting. Philosophical thought keeps threatening to intrude when I am doing these things, but I have so far resisted writing about them. 

If you'd like to see an up-to-date CV, click here​. 

Research

In my research I apply ideas from the history of philosophy to contemporary ethical, social, and political issues, with a particular focus on the environment. 

History of Philosophy

My historical research has focused on the ethics, metaphysics, and metaphilosophy of the classical American Pragmatists, as well as their intellectual connection to post-Kantian idealists in America and Europe.
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Environmental Philosophy

My engaged research applies a pragmatist framework to environmental philosophy. ​In my current projects, I am working with colleagues from across different disciplines to explore the rights of nature. 
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  • Home
  • Publications
  • Research Projects
  • Events
  • Teaching
  • Contact