There is always something going on in the Department of Philosophy. Our activities can be distinguished into three categories:
- Our flagship Philosophy Colloquium Series.
- Other events run by the department, from workshops to reading groups.
- Our outreach projects in local schools.
Read on to find out more.
Philosophy Colloquium Series
The Department's Colloquium Series brings speakers from across the country and around the world to Aberdeen to share their cutting-edge research. A list of past talks can be found below.
Seminars typically take place on Wednesdays from 3-4.30pm in Room 009, 50-52 College Bounds. For more information, contact Dr Stephan Torre: stephan.torre@abdn.ac.uk.
- 2025-2026
-
Sophie Lauwers, University of Edinburgh. "(How) Can the Religious Speak? Epistemic justice and (post-)secular norms of good citizenship." 28th January 2026.
Cristina Richie, University of Edinburgh. "Environmental Ethics and Medical Reproduction." 3rd December 2025.
Mike Stuart, University of York. "Imagination as Epistemic Firebrand." 19th November 2025.
Michele Giavazzi, LMU Munich. "Making Excuses for Political Incompetence." 8th October 2025.
- 2024-2025
-
Fenrong Liu, Tsinghua University. "Xunzi's Argumentation Patterns of 'Fan-gu'." 16th April 2025.
Theron Pummer, University of St Andrews. "The Rules of Rescue: Core Ideas." 5th March 2025.
Poppy Mankowitz, University of Bristol. "Is a Good Person Perfectly Good or Possibly Better?" 4th December 2024.
Peter Graham, University of California, Riverside. "Playing and Asserting." 13th November 2024.
Michael Diamond-Hunter, University of Cambridge. "On Ameliorative and Descriptive Metaphysics of Race." 25th September 2024.
- 2023-2024
-
Małgorzata Wałejko, University of Szczecin. "With or Without You (U2) - Still Alone on Valentine's Day." With the Bednarowski Trust. 14th February 2024.
Other Events
In addition to our regular colloquium series, the department host a number of other events throughout the year. For the most up-to-date information about upcoming events, follow us on Facebook and Bluesky.
- Workshops
-
The department hosts a select number of workshops each academic year. Recent examples include Migration and Asylum in Scotland, The Ethics & Epistemology of AI, and our PGR student-run workshop on Imagination, Fiction, and Extended Reality.
- Public Lectures and Discussions
-
Department staff often organise public lectures and discussions. These events are held off-campus and specifically designed for the wider Aberdeen community.
Recent examples include public discussions on "The Female Category in Sport" and "Why and How Should We Respect the Dead?" Both were held at Aberdeen Art Gallery and part-funded by The Royal Institute of Philosophy.
- Bednarowski Trust Talks
-
The W. Bednarowski Trust was established in 1999 in commemoration of Dr Wladyslaw Bednarowski, a Reader in the Department. The Trust provides support for Polish academics to visit Aberdeen for study and research. Further information can be found here, or by contacting Dr Nigel Dower: n.dower@abdn.ac.uk.
Working closely with Trustees, the Department host talks and informal discussions with Bednarowksi Trust fellows. Recent talks include "Music: Signalling or Representing? Natural content and lessons from birdsong" by Tomasz Szubart and "With or Without You (U2): Still Alone on Valentine’s Day" by Małgorzata Wałejko.
- Work-In-Progress Sessions
-
The department hold regular sessions for staff and PGR students to workshop draft papers and grant applications. These events typically run by-invitation only. For further information, contact Dr Stephan Torre: stephan.torre@abdn.ac.uk.
- Reading Groups
-
Impromptu reading groups frequently pop up in the department, and are open to academics from across the University of Aberdeen. Recent examples include the Normative Philosophy Reading Group and the Presupposition and Implicature Reading Group.
The Centre for Knowledge and Society also hold regular book discussion groups. Contact Professor Vikki Entwistle for more information.
Outreach: Aberdeen Philosophy Education Group (APEG)
The department organise a number of outreach initiatives, which adopt a collaborative approach to bring the benefits of philosophical inquiry to broader audiences. Please contact Dr Federico Luzzi with any queries about our Outreach programmes.
One of our core initiatives is the Aberdeen Philosophy in Education Group (APEG). APEG trains volunteer Aberdeen Philosophy students to facilitate philosophical discussions in primary and secondary school classrooms. It is the only programme of its kind in Scotland.
Research indicates that pupils who take part in group discussion of philosophical questions improve their reasoning and listening skills and self-confidence. (See e.g. here, here, and here.)
Since launching in October 2014, over 70 Aberdeen Philosophy students have undergone APEG's 8-week training, and around 300 school pupils have been reached by this programme.
- Testimonials
-
APEG has been one of if not the most satisfying and enriching experiences of my University education. Through APEG we are promoting critical thinking and reasoning in young people and transforming university students into confident public speakers.
–– Tom Flint, UoA Philosophy student & APEG Facilitator.I think APEG is a great idea to get students engaged with philosophy in a different way than the usual philosophy degree would. It has allowed me to feel much more involved in the philosophy department as well as with students from other years of study who I otherwise wouldn't have met.
–– Miriam Harrold, UoA Philosophy student & APEG Facilitator.I am really happy to have the opportunity to work with APEG and to be able to present philosophy to a younger generation who would otherwise not have the chance to experience it first hand until an advanced stage of learning.
–– Paul Ferrier, UoA Philosophy student & APEG Facilitator.Having philosophy students coming in has been a fantastic experience for the students at Robert Gordon's College. They have had their assumptions revealed and challenged through stimulating thought problems, Socratic questioning and vigorous discussion. I hope this programme will continue as it is mutually beneficial to both the RGC students and those who come to teach them.
–– Kenneth Primrose, Head of Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies, Robert Gordon's College.
Outreach: Philosophy With Children CPD-accredited teacher training course
The department also runs the established Philosophy with Children CPD (Continuing Professional Development) teacher training course. This initiative is designed for primary and secondary school teachers interested in understanding how philosophical questions can be usefully integrated in their teaching curriculum. This 1-day course has trained over 100 teachers since its launch in November 2012.
More information can be found here. For further details and booking, contact cpdservices@abdn.ac.uk.
- Feedback from teachers who took this course
-
Thoroughly enjoyed the day. Relevant with practical advice and guidelines that can be taken back to school and implemented.A thoroughly enjoyable and productive in-service, great to be surrounded by positivity.
I thought the whole day was incredibly informative and helpful and can see this really working well with my class. I feel that this approach will hugely benefit them across the curriculum Thank you for a most informative and practical CPD. A session that inspired and sparked thoughts - very keen to start using and enabling children to be thinkers!Outstanding in-service day.Thought it was fantastic!I found the entire structure to be very useful and easy to follow. It was well thought out and delivered.The course was very practical and equipped us with real strategies to use in the classroom.Very interesting course. It's the first I have thoroughly enjoyed in a long time. Didn't look at my watch once - thank you.Great CPD event, well worth the money, lots of ideas to take back to the school.