Leeds Uni PRHS

What do we lose through using Generative AI to write?

In this new @ctp-leeds.bsky.social blog, Dr Andrew Kirton shares why we shouldn’t be too quick to outsource our writing jobs to AI. As he argues, if we use GenAI to think and write we do lose something. Find out what it is in this blog.
ahc.leeds.ac.uk/centre-theor...

Our events calendar is now live for the upcoming term! 🥳

Most of our events take place on Wednesdays from 1pm in the boardroom at 17 Blenheim Terrace (the University of Leeds).

For the most up-to-date schedule throughout the term, keep an eye on our PRHS departmental calendar: bit.ly/PRHScalendar

Welcome! We are the Centre for Theoretical Philosophy at the
@universityofleeds.bsky.social.

We bring together philosophers, academic staff, and postgraduate students working across theoretical and analytic philosophy.

Here, you will find announcements about our weekly seminars and activities.

A puzzle about fuzzy boundaries

The CTP Blog series is back, after a short break. In this latest edition, Professor J Robert G Williams presents and plays around with a puzzle by Crispin Wright, showing a clash between two tempting claims about fuzzy boundaries.
You can read the article here ...
ahc.leeds.ac.uk/centre-theor...

Themes to be covered may include philosophy of mind and action, free will, ontology of mind, modal epistemology, mathematical nominalism, the epistemology of religious belief, and adjacent topics. For inquiries, please contact the Director of the Centre, Dr Léa Salje - L.C.Salje@leeds.ac.uk.

The Centre for Theoretical Philosophy (CTP) at PRHS invites you to a two-day conference in celebration of the work of Professors Helen Steward and Scott Shalkowski. Registration is free! Date: 18th and 19th September 2025. Venue: Maurice Keyworth LT.
To register:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/conference...

Greg Radick giving the Genetics Society’s JBS Haldane

This year's prestigious Haldane lecture (click) will be delivered by Greg Radick. The JBS Haldane Lecture recognises an individual for outstanding ability to communicate topical subjects in genetics research, widely interpreted, to an…

In this recent blog post by the Centre for Theoretical Phil., Dr Ellen Clarke suggests that scientific activity is a much more active process of conceptual engineering, in which our observations are heavily idealised and bent into models that help us navigate reality.
ahc.leeds.ac.uk/centre-theor...

What work does the concept of rationality do? What does it mean to say someone is or is being rational or irrational? In this latest CTP blog post, Dr Andrew Kirton questions what attributions of rationality might amount to and in what way, if any, they are useful.
ahc.leeds.ac.uk/centre-theor...

What is it like to be in the Matrix?

What is it like to be in the Matrix?

Read more on this in the latest blog article published by the Centre for Theoretical Philosophy, and written by Dr Heather Logue.

ahc.leeds.ac.uk/centre-theor...

Following the release of Natasha McKeever's paper "Is Sex Work Inherently Gendered?" (available to read here: https://buff.ly/40j7mCM...), this week's Ethics Untangled episode sees Jim Baxter speaking to Natasha about this topic.

This year IDEA The Ethics Centre celebrates its 20th Anniversary, as part of the celebrations we are planning to host several events, including workshops, public lectures and a conference.
Please keep an eye on our social media accounts or on our website https://buff.ly/3B3Pa7M throughout the year

As part of IDEA The Ethics Centre's 20th anniversary celebrations we are delighted to welcome Heather Widdows who will be presenting a public lecture entitled "The Future of Applied Ethics and the role and Progress of IDEA". please book your space at this Eventbrite link:
https://buff.ly/4aAuWjt

As part of IDEA The Ethics Centre's 20th anniversary celebrations we are delighted to welcome Gavin Esler who will be presenting a public lecture entitled "Dead Cats, Strategic Lying & Truth Decay".

Our current episode features Natasha McKeever asking why sex work is so gendered. I.e., why are people who get paid for sex mostly women, why are people who pay for sex mostly men, and why is by far the most common scenario in sex work a man paying a woman for sex? www.buzzsprout.com/2113237/epis...

Natasha McKeever of IDEA has just had a new paper published. Entitled "Is Sex Work Inherently Gendered?" it is open access and available to read here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
This also links with the work Natasha is doing within the PRHS Centre for Love, Sex, and Relationships.

What it’s like to perceive: Eden vs. The Matrix

A new CTP blog article written by PRHS's Dr Heather Logue has been published. The article is titled, "What it’s like to perceive: Eden vs. The Matrix".
We hope you enjoy reading this
ahc.leeds.ac.uk/centre-theor...
Previous publications can be accessed here ahc.leeds.ac.uk/homepage/449...

We’ve just recorded the first episode in our forthcoming podcast series: “The Science of 1875”! This will feature reflections on what science looked like 150 years ago when the Yorkshire College of Science was officially inaugurated! Coming in January 2025! #histsci

New UKRI-funded Centre launched to boost public engagement in arts and humanities research The Centre for Public Engagement Practice in Arts and Humanities, which is supported by UK Research Innovation (UKRI), will create opportunities for humanities researchers.

Good to hear about the new UKRI-funded Centre for Public Engagement Practice in Arts and Humanities at the School of Advanced Study (University of London) with a strong commitment to practice-based networks and support for open access training www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...

AHC researchers awarded Sapling Fund grants for innovative collaborative projects The Sapling Fund is designed to support the development of interdisciplinary research and impact projects rooted in the arts and humanities

We're thrilled to announce that The Sapling Fund 2024-25 will support partnership-working across six dynamic research and impact projects ahc.leeds.ac.uk/arts-humanit...

Justified belief and possible worlds

CTP Blog: Discussing the notion that justified belief depends on its truth across other possible worlds, Dr. Nick Makins argues these theories face a new version of an old problem: Bertrand’s Paradox. Read the full article here - ahc.leeds.ac.uk/centre-theor...

Come and join us @leedsprhs.bsky.social!

How ethical are dating apps? What’s the impact on our reliance on them to shape our love lives in the 21st century? Check out some of our brilliant academics driving the public debate:

amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Addicted to love: how dating apps ‘exploit’ their users Online services that promise to find people romantic matches have been likened to gambling products designed to keep customers hooked

Exciting! Dr Luke Brunning's work was cited in The Guardian’s article “Addicted to love: how dating apps ‘exploit’ their users.” The article cites Luke's fascinating parallel between dating apps and video game loot boxes. #Research #DatingApps
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

What are philosophy journals for?

Exciting news! The Centre for Theoretical Philosophy (CTP) has launched its blog series. 🎉 Kicking things off, Dr. Joshua Habgood-Coote explores the question, “What are philosophy journals for?” 📚✨
Read the full article here:
ahc.leeds.ac.uk/centre-theor...

Visiting Speaker Seminar Series – HPS Leeds Updated twice a year with seminar programmes for the semester.

After a fascinating Work-in-Progress Seminar today from our PhD researcher, Kellie Vernon, we're delighted to be welcoming Dr Agnes Bolinska from the University of South Carolina tomorrow (Weds 15th) for "Models of Information in Structural Biology"

hpsleeds.wordpress.com/category/vis...

THIS IS NOT A DRILL!
So thrilled Alice Through the Looking Glass is out TODAY!🪞All 516 pages of it-38 essays by 42 authors- theologians, art& science historians, translatologists, physicists, literary& film scholars- and poetry! For £28 (!!)
Get it here: www.peterlang.com/document/132...

Stefan Bernhardt-Radu Wins Prestigious Freer Prize Fellowship for Research in Developmental Genetics School of PRHS PGR, Stefan Bernhardt-Radu, is one of only two recipients of new Freer Prize Fellowship for his research on 20th-century history about developmental genetics.

PRHS PGR, Stefan Bernhardt-Radu, has been awarded the Prestigious Royal Institution Freer Prize Fellowship for his Research in Developmental Genetics. Stefan will benefit from mentorship, training on Science communication and other resources.
See more here ahc.leeds.ac.uk/philosophy/n...

#OpportunityAlert
We are hiring a Lecturer in Applied Ethics (Teaching & Research) to join our team at the IDEA Centre. Would you like to be part of a team making a major impact through innovation in ethics learning and teaching, research and consultancy? To Apply
jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...

Are you an early career researcher?
Is your research in philosophy, history and philosophy of science, or theology and religious studies?
PRHS Invites Expressions of Interest for the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships in the School.
See more here-
ahc.leeds.ac.uk/philosophy/n...