School of Social and Political Science

Description

Many aspects of education raise both empirical and moral questions: what is the effect of a school admissions policy on attainment?; is a school admissions policy just? 

To help scholars and wider society answer such questions, we need to know how to seek answers. We need sophisticated methods and robust foundations for those methods. Education studies benefits from a well-developed field of research into the foundations and applications of empirical methods. However, we lack a similarly mature field of research methods for the moral analysis of education. This contrasts with analytical moral philosophy more broadly, where research into its methods flourishes. Absent dedicated research into the foundations and methods of moral analysis in education, our ability to address scholarly and practical questions is impaired. 

This project brings together a network of scholars to develop innovative approaches to the foundations and methods of moral analysis in education. The network meets regularly for online discussions of work-in-progress. These online seminars are open to interested participants. 

Seminar Series

During academic year 2025-26 this network is generously funded by a Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain Large Grant. This grant supports a series of Masterclasses and work-in-progress seminars, culminating in a hybrid workshop to be held in Edinburgh in June 2026.

Masterclasses

We will hold two Masterclasses to promote understanding and engagement with important areas of research into foundations and methods of moral analysis in education. The aim of these Masterclasses is to help researchers learn about these approaches from leading experts in the field, and to consider how these approaches may be applied to the moral analysis of education. 

The format of these Masterclasses will be as follows. The first half of the session will comprise an introductory talk from the Masterclass Leaders, with opportunities for questions and discussion. Following a short break, the second half will involve discussion of two papers by members of the network applying the approach considered in the Masterclass to education.

These Masterclasses are open to all. Early Career Researchers are particularly encouraged to participate. Please email Philip Cook for information on how to attend online.

Masterclass 1: Social Ontology as a Foundation for Moral Analysis in Education

• Date: Tuesday 23 September 2025
• Time: 4pm to 7pm (UK Time)
• Location: Online (Zoom) - please email Philip Cook for link 

This Masterclass will be led by Åsa Burman (Stockholm University) and Johan Brännmark (Stockholm University). 

Papers on social ontology in the moral analysis of education will be provided by Christian Norefalk (Malmö University) and Philip Cook (University of Edinburgh). These papers will be pre-circulated upon registration for the event.

Masterclass 2: Conceptual Engineering as a Method for Moral Analysis in Education

• Date and Time: Tuesday 11 November 2025
• Time: 4pm to 7pm (UK Time)
• Location: Online (Zoom) - please email Philip Cook for link

This Masterclass will be led by Mark Pinder (Open University).

Papers on conceptual engineering in the moral analysis of education will be provided by Sally Moore (The Ohio State University), and Winston C. Thompson (The Ohio State University).

Work-in-Progress Seminars

Following these Masterclasses, the network will hold a series of work-in-progress seminars discussing foundations and methods in the moral analysis in education. Dates and topics for these seminars will be updated in due course.

Please join our email list to be notified of all forthcoming events by emailing: Philip Cook.

Group Members