Critical theory
Undergraduate study
Undergraduate study in philosophy at Essex offers a unique combination of analytic Anglo-American and European continental
philosophical traditions.
We are the largest centre of research on Frankfurt School critical theory in the UK, with many of our staff and students actively researching philosophers such as Adorno, Habermas and Honneth.
- Professor Peter Dews has published on the Frankfurt School for several decades.
His books include Logics of Disintegration (Verso, 1987), Limits of Disenchantment (Verso, 1995) and The Idea of Evil (Blackwell, 2008).
- Dr Fabian Freyenhagen works on Adorno’s moral philosophy and defends the feasibility of a negativistic
ethics in his book, Adorno’s Practical Philosophy: Living Less Wrongly (Cambridge University Press, 2013).
- Dr Steven Gormley joined us in 2012 and has worked on Habermas and deliberative democracy.
- Dr Timo Jütten has published papers on Adorno, Habermas and Honneth, and works on commodification and the moral
limits of markets.
- Dr Jörg Schaub joined us in 2012 and works on realism in political philosophy and on social pathologies.
Postgraduate research in critical theory
Many of our PhD students work on issues related to critical theory and we regularly offer an MA module on the Frankfurt School and Critical Social Theory.
Critical Theory Colloquium
Every week during term time, academic staff and graduate students interested in critical theory meet at our Critical Theory Colloquium to discuss classic texts or recent work
in critical theory, as well as their own works in progress. The topic for spring and summer 2013 is the concept of a social pathology.
Postgraduate study
We are internationally recognised as a leading centre of postgraduate study in philosophy, both at Masters and PhD level.
PhD study
By undertaking PhD study at Essex, you will become a member of an exciting and active research community, and benefit from the expert supervision of
our internationally recognised staff.
Phenomenology
Phenomenology is a central concern in our School. Each year we offer at least one MA module in phenomenology and many
current PhD students are exploring phenomenological approaches to subjects such as perception and ethics.
German philosophy
Classical German philosophy is a major area of research and teaching at Essex. Many of our academic staff are experts on Kant and the post-Kantian
tradition including Hegel, Marx and Nietzsche.