Special Interest Group

Philosophy of Education

The Philosophy of Education SIG supports the development and dissemination of philosophical research in education and its interdisciplinary links.

Educational research is an inherently interdisciplinary field. Philosophical perspectives, or engagement with the philosophy that underpins different disciplines and methods, remains a vital part of the field’s ability to advance original educational thinking and respond to both enduring and emerging questions that face education and wider society.

The SIG welcomes those engaged in both theoretical and empirical philosophy, and understands education in its broadest sense, from upbringing and family life, through formal education, to the ‘education of grown-ups’, to use Stanley Cavell’s term.

Research interests

Upbringing and family life
Policy and pedagogy in formal education
Diverse philosophical and methodological approaches
The role of culture and media in educating the public
Diverse forms of research presentation

SIG aims

To provide an inclusive space for both practitioners, students, and academics
To support a diversity of approaches to philosophical research
To provide opportunities for dissemination and collaboration
To offer advice and guidance for early career researchers

Twitter @Beraphilosophy

Philosophy of Education Newsletters

SIG Convenors

Kate O’Shaughnessy, Ms

Education Consultant at University College London

Hi – I'm Kate, the Director of OSC Education Ltd. I'm all about connecting theory with practice in education. I started teaching English in East London before becoming a senior leader for many years. Now I work with schools to develop...

Naomi Hodgson, Dr

Reader in Education at Edge Hill University

Dr Naomi Hodgson is a Reader in Education at Edge Hill University, UK, and a Visiting Professor at KU Leuven, Belgium. Her research focuses on the relationship between education, governance, and subjectivity, and she is currently leading research...

Victoria I. Ekpo, Dr

Lecturer in Secondary English Education at N/A

Victoria I. Ekpo is a lecturer in Secondary English Education and a final-year PhD student at Edge Hill University, Ormskirk. Her research centres around questions of authenticity – the self and their ontology – and ways in which poetry...