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Christopher Woodard
Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts
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Expertise Summary
I came to Nottingham from Warwick in 2002. My research interests are in normative ethics and political philosophy. In normative ethics I have a distinctive theory of pattern-based reasons. These are reasons to perform some action because it is part of a larger pattern of action that is good or right. Most philosophers believe either that such reasons do not exist, or that they exist only in cooperative contexts. I claim that they exist even in uncooperative contexts, when there is no prospect of the rest of the pattern being realized. The result is an ethical theory that is similar to, but more general than, Rule Consequentialism. I defend this theory in my book, Reasons, Patterns, and Cooperation. I am also working on welfare, and I am especially interested in hybrid views of it.
Teaching Summary
My teaching interests are in moral and political philosophy. I am especially interested in normative ethics (general views about right and wrong), theories of welfare or wellbeing, theories of… read more
Research Summary
My current research is on two fronts: (1) the idea of pattern-based reasons, and (2) philosophical theories of welfare.
(1) Pattern-based reasons are reasons for or against some action that depend on its being part of some favoured or disfavoured pattern of action. I defend the following controversial claims about such reasons: they exist; their existence does not depend on the willingness of the agents concerned to realise the favoured or disfavoured pattern; the idea of pattern-based reasons illuminates well-known disputes in normative ethics, such as disputes between consequentialists and deontologists or actualists and possibilists.
(2) I am also working on theories of welfare. I am currently thinking about a hybrid theory of welfare, which combines elements of preferentism and hedonism.
Recent Publications
My teaching interests are in moral and political philosophy. I am especially interested in normative ethics (general views about right and wrong), theories of welfare or wellbeing, theories of distributive justice, and theories of state legitimacy.
In 2011-12 I have been teaching level 1 ethics, level 2 history of political philosophy, and Masters level ethics. I have also been involved in the Department's very successful Philosophy in Schools programme, discussing philosophical issues with pupils at a local primary school.
My approach to teaching is always to try to communicate two main things: why the issue under discussion matters, and how one might try to make progress in thinking about it. This motivates students to think for themselves and gives them the tools to do so.
Past Research
I have worked on theories of distributive justice in the past, especially egalitarian theories. I continue to be interested in this area.
Future Research
I plan to continue working on pattern-based reasons and welfare, and eventually to broaden my concern from welfare to value more generally. My longer-term aim is to investigate whether I can combine a theory of pattern-based reasons and a theory of welfare to yield an attractive and novel form of utilitarianism. In this connection I continue to be interested in theories of distributive justice and other topics in political philosophy.
WOODARD, C., 2011. Rationality and the Unit of Action The Review of Philosophy and Psychology. 2(2), 261-277 WOODARD, C., 2009. Pedro's significance The Southern Journal of Philosophy. XLVII(3), 301-319 WOODARD, C., 2009. What's wrong with possibilism Analysis. 69(2), 219-226 WOODARD, C., 2008. A New Argument Against Rule Consequentialism Ethical Theory and Moral Practice. 11, 247-261 WOODARD, C., 2005. Egalitarianism Philosophical Books. 46(2), 97-112 WOODARD, C., 2003. Group-based reasons for action Ethical Theory and Moral Practice. 6(2), 215-229 WOODARD, C., 2000. The Concept of Acquiescence Journal of Political Philosophy. VOL 8(PART 4), 409-432
WOODARD, C., 2000. Cohen and the Basic Structure Objection Acta Politica. VOL 35(PART 3), 275-301
WOODARD, C., 1998. Egalitarianism, Responsibility and Desert Imprints; a journal of analytical socialism. 3(1), 25-48
WOODARD, C., 1997. The Practice of Political Theory. In: BURNHAM, P., ed., Surviving the Research Process in Politics London: Pinter.
WOODARD, C., 1997. Responsibility, Desert and Liberal Theories of Justice In: Contemporary Political Studies. 1161-1168