New directions in the medical humanities

This research cluster continues to shape fast-moving interdisciplinary research in the medical humanities, both locally and internationally.

Our contributions include high-impact interventions on debates around autonomy, disability and mental health; insight, objectivity and the management of risk; and experiences of powerlessness in contexts of chronic illness, end-of-life care, addiction and moral distress.

Through this cluster, we have forged multiple partnerships across disciplines, including Law, Sociology, and Health and Social Care; and with non-academic stakeholders, from local hospices to the UK Ministry of Justice, the Judicial College and the Council of Europe. Our work in the medical humanities contributes to the wider Faculty of Arts and Humanities research in Health and Medical Humanities.

Learn more about our members research and interests through their staff profiles. You can also contact members of staff for information on research supervision opportunities.

Our members

Professor, School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies
Research interests: Agency, medio-passivity and the theological virtues; Foucault and XXth century philosophy, in particular phenomenology
Professor, School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies
Research interests: Theory, history and practice of autonomy; Frankfurt School (especially Adorno); Ethics (particularly critique of Kant's and Kantian ethics); Political Philosophy
Professor, School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies
Research interests: Philosophy of Psychiatry; Phenomenology (esp Hume, Husserl, Heidegger, Th Lipps, L&oslashgstrup); Kant and post-Kantian idealism (esp Fichte); The history and philosophy of logic; Philosophy and painting; Self-Consciousness; Autonomy and the Regulation of Care; Political Philosophy; Will, Agency and Contract
Senior Lecturer, School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies
Research interests: Matt works on issues at the intersection of phenomenology; action theory; and research in the cognitive and social sciences.
Professor, School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies
Research interests: Existentialism; Phenomenology; Ethics
Senior Lecturer, School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies
Research interests: Kierkegaard; Wittgenstein; The theory of judgement; Medical Humanities; Existentialism and phenomenology; Moral and political philosophy and; Philosophy of religion
Senior Lecturer, School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies
Research interests: Philosophy of mind; philosophy of language; epistemology; philosophy of psychology; Speech acts
Senior Lecturer, School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies
Research interests: Social and Political Philosophy (focus on contemporary theories and 19th century German authors); Frankfurt School and Contemporary Critical Theory; Aesthetics

Related courses

Are you looking to study a philosophy degree at undergraduate, masters or PhD level? Explore some of the exciting courses below, or visit our subject areas to find out more about the degrees and modules that Essex has to offer. If you're not sure which subject is right for you, you can always search for a course. If you're looking for research opportunities, or to find a supervisor, you can use our research finder by searching for your research interests.

 

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Dr Dan Watts