The Royal Institute of Philosophy

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News

'Emotions': Our 2022 Essay Prize topic

The topic for this year’s Royal Institute of Philosophy essay prize competition is ‘Emotions’.

20 Jul 2022

Cardiff annual lectures

Value Collapse

In this year’s Cardiff Annual Lecture, C. Thi Nguyen addresses the issues around and implications of setting goals around explicit metrics.

17 Oct 2022

Think

God and Morality

Richard Swinburne argues that the existence of God is not a precondition of there being moral truths, but his existence does impact on what moral truths there are.

By Richard Swinburne

Masterclasses

Watch now: What Is Utilitarianism?

Philosopher, cultural theorist and novelist Kwame Anthony Appiah provides an accessible overview of the concept of utilitarianism, part of our 15-minute masterclass series, perfect for A-level students.

18 Jul 2022 · YouTube

News

Introducing our new Managing Director

The Royal Institute of Philosophy is pleased to announce it has appointed a new Managing Director, Melanie Nightingale.

23 Sep 2022

Our new Academic Director

The Royal Institute of Philosophy is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Edward Harcourt as its new Academic Director.

20 Sep 2022

Celebrating the work of David Wiggins

Our latest issue of Philosophy centres around this significant thinker in his 90th year. Find out more about the issue and how you can access the publication here.

20 Sep 2022

Mary Midgley: a celebration

A new collection of writing from Philosophy and the Royal Institute of Philosophy supplements is now free to access online.

20 Sep 2022

Hiring: Assistant to the editors of Philosophy

The Royal Institute of Philosophy is seeking an Assistant to the Editors of Philosophy.

09 Sep 2022

Thinking Hard and Slow

The Royal Institute now has its own podcast, bringing you mind-expanding, long-form philosophy.

12 Aug 2022

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Funding opportunities

Looking for funding for your philosophy event? We offer packages of support, including funding and sponsorship to promote engagement with philosophical ideas.

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Our work in outreach

We aim to break down barriers and promote philosophical thinking amongst traditionally underserved audiences. Discover our work with schools, prisons, young offender institutions and more.

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Free articles

Philosophy

Infinitesimals, Nations, and Persons: In memoriam D.A.P. 11 December 1942 − 1 January 2017

Ian Rumfitt compares three sorts of case in which philosophers have argued that we cannot assert the Law of Excluded Middle for statements of identity.

By Ian Rumfitt

Philosophy

A Reasonable Frugality

Our choices and actions could ensure the perpetual future of life… or, in contrast, through malign intent or through misadventure, misdirected technology could jeopardize life's potential, foreclosing its human and post-human future.

By David Wiggins

Think

God and Morality

Richard Swinburne argues that the existence of God is not a precondition of there being moral truths, but that his existence does impact on what moral truths there are.

By Richard Swinburne

Think

Mathematics: Discovery or Invention?

How is it possible for there to be an ontology of mathematical objects set apart from the familiar ontology of physical things and from the familiar ontology of mental things?

By Kit Fine

Think

It's Not Brains or Personality so It Must Be Looks: Why Women Give Up on Philosophy

A discussion of the under-representation of women in academic philosophy, focusing on the perception both of the nature of women and of the nature of philosophy itself.

By Stephen Law