Postgraduate Studies in Philosophy, Staffordshire University, Academic year 2009-10

Each year we revise the offered portfolio of modules, reading groups and other events. This is so that the programme links in tightly with and supports the research projects that staff and research students are be undertaking at the time. The structure and overall aims of our postgraduate awards remain constant, but the manner of fulfilling its content changes. Many dates and topics are not yet fixed, but here are our current proposals:

• Badiou reading group, (summer session 2009, June to August, Thursdays at 6pm.)
• Philosophy and Fine Art Research Group meetings (University of Cork; Staffordshire University; Loughborough University; date TBA)

• Reading group on Kant in recent European philosophy (Thursdays, 6pm, throughout semester one)
• 'Truth' (course running semester one)
• 'Self and Others' (philosophy and politics of recognition; course running semester two)
• Research seminar on Biopolitics and Community (Tuesday evenings, throughout semester two)
• 'Thinking with Words and Narratives' (philosophy and literature; Nietzsche's Zarathustra; course in semester two)

• And, of course, our Postgraduate Research Seminar. These are in day conference format, generally two in each semester, with visiting speakers and invited guests. This coming year, our proposed topics will be:
  • 'Ethics and Materialism'
  • 'Critical Philosophy and Ethics II'

• Visiting speakers, to be announced

• In addition, there are likely to be several reading groups organised by the postgraduate philosophy community on topics of mutual interest. Current suggestions include a group reading ancient Stoicism in semester two.