Gideon Elford
Gideon Elford
Moral and Political Philosophy
Research
Much of my research concerns equality and agency. In that vein a part of my work involves exploring and defending a form of egalitarianism which judges all inequalities in some respect unfair unless they are appropriately related to the choices persons make. Some of this has consisted in reflecting on the conditions under which it is appropriate to hold persons responsible for their choices; more specifically, asking when the responsible choices persons make justify their being worse off than others. Another closely related part of my work involves considering different ways of conceptualising the value of equality and exploring how they related to one another.
My most recent research concerns freedom of expression. I am especially interested in the ways in which freedom of expression can be threatened by sources other than state regulation. At present I am developing an account of the freedom-restricting effects of social penalties on expression. Part of this involves thinking about the responsibilities we may have to refrain from imposing expression-related social penalties and countering the impact they can have on freedom of expression.
My most recent research concerns freedom of expression. I am especially interested in the ways in which freedom of expression can be threatened by sources other than state regulation. At present I am developing an account of the freedom-restricting effects of social penalties on expression. Part of this involves thinking about the responsibilities we may have to refrain from imposing expression-related social penalties and countering the impact they can have on freedom of expression.
Teaching
Undergraduate:
Introduction to the Theory of Politics: First year undergraduate course involving an introduction to several important themes in political theory and thinkers in the history of political thought Theory of Politics: Undergraduate finals paper engaging a range of topics in Political Theory Political Thought: Plato to Rousseau: Undergraduate finals paper covering a number of prominent thinkers in the history of political thought Graduate: MPhil Political Theory: Core MPhil first year course in Political Theory Reasoning in Political Philosophy: MPhil course primarily relating to methods in Analytical Political Philosophy Ethics: MPhil course engaging a range of ethical theories Research Design: First year MPhil seminar guiding the development of students’ theses |