Unit of Assessment: Philosophy

REF impact found 98 Case Studies

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Aesthetics and its Modern History

Summary of the impact

For two decades, researchers at Southampton have played a leading role in demonstrating the value of bringing contemporary aesthetics into dialogue with its past. Through an extensive programme of public engagement activities, including talks, podcasts, videos, gallery events and 6th form conferences, we have brought our research on this theme to more than 200,000 people, stimulating them to think about unfamiliar topics, or about familiar topics in new and illuminating ways. These activities have enriched our interlocutors' intellectual and cultural lives, and, in some cases, have influenced their understanding of their own artistic practice.

Submitting Institution

University of Southampton

Unit of Assessment

Philosophy

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Language, Communication and Culture: Cultural Studies, Literary Studies
History and Archaeology: Historical Studies

Are we living in a computer simulation?

Summary of the impact

In 2003, Professor Nick Bostrom published a ground-breaking article entitled `Are You Living in a Computer Simulation?', in which he advanced arguments to suggest that it is more than just a sceptical hypothesis that we might be living in a computer simulation, it is almost certainly the case. This article generated considerable interest, both within the philosophical study and beyond it. It inspired: a popular `wiki site' devoted to the idea; a highly acclaimed play World of Wires (winner of the 2012 Obie Award for Best Direction), which ran in New York and Paris in January and November 2012 respectively; a very successful novel Bedlam, published early in 2013; and another novel The Simulator, published in July 2013.

Submitting Institution

University of Oxford

Unit of Assessment

Philosophy

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Language, Communication and Culture: Literary Studies
Philosophy and Religious Studies: History and Philosophy of Specific Fields, Philosophy

Robson

Summary of the impact

Eleanor Robson's research on mathematics in ancient Iraq has delivered impact in two key areas: improved teaching practices in the UK, USA and Pakistan; and increased public understanding of ancient mathematics and Middle Eastern history. Impact on teaching was primarily achieved through video conferences, a multimedia pack for schools downloaded over 14,500 times internationally, and a US teacher training programme. Impact on public understanding of ancient mathematics and Middle Eastern history was achieved through museum exhibitions, art works, radio programmes and contribution to non-specialist publications.

Submitting Institution

University of Cambridge

Unit of Assessment

Philosophy

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

History and Archaeology: Archaeology, Historical Studies

Autonomy and Best Interests Decision-Making Policy

Summary of the impact

In 2008 the Philosophy Department decided to organise its impact strategy around the research activities of the Essex Autonomy Project (EAP). EAP research has been conducted in two distinct strands with different research outputs and impacts. This case study summarises the impact of our work concerning the legal concept of best interests decision-making. Through EAP public policy roundtables, EAP technical reports, and through work with public organisations and public officials, EAP research has informed professional and public discussion of the law of best interests, has had impact in the development of public policy guidelines for implementing legal requirements, and has played a role in the review and reform of existing regulatory frameworks.

Submitting Institution

University of Essex

Unit of Assessment

Philosophy

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Law and Legal Studies: Law
Philosophy and Religious Studies: Applied Ethics, Philosophy

Autonomy and the Assessment of Mental Capacity

Summary of the impact

In 2008 the Philosophy Department decided to organise its impact strategy around the research activities of the Essex Autonomy Project (EAP). EAP research has been conducted in two distinct strands with different research outputs and impacts. This case study summarises the impact of our interdisciplinary research on the legal/psychiatric concept of `mental capacity.' Through the EAP practitioner network, Summer School, and on-site workforce training programme, that research is now informing and changing the assessment of capacity undertaken by frontline medical professionals and social workers acting under the 2005 Mental Capacity Act.

Submitting Institution

University of Essex

Unit of Assessment

Philosophy

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Challenging Perceptions of the Ethics of Human Enhancement

Summary of the impact

For over a decade, Professor Julian Savulescu has produced a body of work on the enhancement of human beings and its ethical implications, including work on the ethics of genetic selection and on the ethics of using technology to enhance human capacities. This work has had an influence on public policy, in particular by influencing government bodies in Norway, the United States, and Australia, and on business and industry. It has also been used in teaching material for secondary school pupils by the Wellcome Collection. Furthermore, through the many prestigious public lectures that Professor Savulescu has given and the seminars that he has led, through the television and radio interviews that he has given, and through the extensive discussion of his ideas in the press and online, he has both contributed to the public awareness of and stimulated lively debate around such issues as what distinguishes the use of doping in sport from seemingly acceptable forms of enhancement, and what if anything is wrong with designer babies.

Submitting Institution

University of Oxford

Unit of Assessment

Philosophy

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology
Philosophy and Religious Studies: Applied Ethics, Philosophy

Changing Minds Through Narrative

Summary of the impact

Currie's research into the role and nature of narrative and character has brought about a range of significant benefits in the fields of healthcare, education and public debate.

  • Physicians working with mental health patients rely on Currie's work to support a specific treatment programme
  • Training for more than 300 medical practitioners has been delivered, developed from materials in Currie's research
  • Children's confidence and attainment levels have been improved
  • Public debate has been stimulated
  • Schools have changed their curricula to teach some of the research findings

Submitting Institution

University of Nottingham

Unit of Assessment

Philosophy

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Clinical Sciences
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology
Language, Communication and Culture: Literary Studies

Changing Practices and Perceptions Concerning Sexual Harassment in Philosophy

Summary of the impact

Jennifer Saul's research on sexual harassment in philosophy has received extensive media coverage. It has influenced practices of philosophy departments and professional associations, leading to the establishment of an American Philosophical Association Task Force on Sexual Harassment and to working groups in various departments. It has played a role in shaping the best practice guides of the American Philosophical Association and British Philosophical Association, both in progress. Finally, it has affected the thinking of many individuals. This research has been crucially informed by Christopher Bennett's work on mechanisms for expressing disapproval.

Submitting Institution

University of Sheffield

Unit of Assessment

Philosophy

Summary Impact Type

Cultural

Research Subject Area(s)

Philosophy and Religious Studies: Philosophy

Changing preconceptions among the public and healthcare professionals on the meaning of illness and the human body

Summary of the impact

Havi Carel's work on the experience of illness has had wide-ranging and significant impact on health professionals, patients and their families, policy makers and health researchers throughout the world. Her influential book, Illness, sparked a public debate on the importance of the first-person experience of illness. Consequently, through presentations, media coverage, public debates, academic-practitioner networks, educational activities and public workshops, Carel's influence on many people's perceptions of illness has been profound.

Submitting Institution

University of the West of England, Bristol

Unit of Assessment

Philosophy

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Studies In Human Society: Sociology
Philosophy and Religious Studies: History and Philosophy of Specific Fields

Changing Software Through Metaphysics

Summary of the impact

Mumford and Tallant engaged in consultancy work for IT companies, with both interactions leading to substantial positive benefits for commercial partners. Though `early stage impacts', each consultancy has generated both commercial value and a change in software design of a key product.

Through Mumford's consultancy, research led to significant changes to the development of a database tool developed by a national IT company, FACE Recording and Measurement Systems. This, in turn, has led to a patent application. FACE recently received an offer of $5m (US) for a product based upon the tool.

Through Tallant's consultancy, research led to important changes to the development of an online calendar/event planner tool, developed by a Canadian software company—Time.ly. It also led to Time.ly being able to engage a wider audience. The financial value of such a company depends upon the number of users they can engage. Time.ly were recently valued at $8.4m (CAN).

Between them, Mumford and Tallant have made significant contributions to companies or products valued at over £8m.

Submitting Institution

University of Nottingham

Unit of Assessment

Philosophy

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
Medical and Health Sciences: Clinical Sciences
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology

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