My DPhil thesis, entitled 'Legitimacy Beyond the State', is supervised by Professor Paul Billingham.
Political philosophers normally take for granted that the state's power, in order to be exercised permissibly, must meet certain standards of procedural and substantive legitimacy. For instance, its power must be democratically authorised by its citizens, and exercised consistently and transparently. My DPhil thesis starts by answering the following question: in virtue of what features of the state's power is this the case? I then ask whether the power wielded by certain non-state actors, such as firms, international institutions, social media companies, and border regimes, share these features. And if so, must they too face similarly stringent tests of legitimacy?
More broadly, I am interested in: the ethics of digital technology; freedom of expression; the ethics of influence and manipulation; immigration; and debates surrounding public reason, neutrality and perfectionism.
I teach the following undergraduate papers:
Introduction to the Theory of Politics (Prelims)
Theory of Politics (Finals)
Advanced Paper in Theories of Justice (Finals)
Before coming to Nuffield, I completed an MPhil in Political Theory (Distinction) at Hertford College, Oxford. Prior to that, I completed my BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at The Queen's College, Oxford (First Class).
Beyond academia, I enjoy choral singing, and playing the saxophone and piano.
