What I’m doing and have done

(Last updated: February 2024)

Overview

I work on moral and political philosophy, and teach in connected areas. Other philosophical interests lay at the intersection of philosophy, politics, economics, and sometimes law.

In my research, I aim to develop the view that legitimacy is based on the ability of political institutions to promote and achieve justice, rather than consent or public justification.

Areas of Specialisation: Political Philosophy, Moral Philosophy
Areas of Competence: Kant, Philosophy of Economics, Philosophy of Law, Political Epistemology

Work
9.2021-
Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter (Fixed-Term Lecturer)
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Chair for Philosophy and Political Theory
9.2020-8.2021
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Oslo
PluriCourts - Centre for the Study of the Legitimate Roles of the Judiciary in the Global Order
8.2017-5.2020
DeOlazarra Fellow and Research Associate
University of Virginia
Political Philosophy, Policy & Law program
10.2015-9.2016
Stipendiary Lecturer
Merton College, Oxford
Moral and Political Philosophy
Academics
2.2017
D.Phil. in Philosophy
University of Oxford
Thesis: A Rationalist Theory of Legitimacy
Passed without corrections
6.2012
B.Phil. in Philosophy
University of Oxford
Graduated with distinction.
Thesis: Against Justificatory Liberalism
4.2010
B.A. in Philosophy & Economics
Universität Bayreuth, Germany
Overall Grade: 1.1.
Books
An Instrumentalist Theory of Political Legitimacy
Oxford University Press, 2024.
More information
Journal Articles
The asymmetry between domestic and global legitimacy
Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, forthcoming.
DOI doi.org/10.1080/13698230.2023.2216044
Towards Non-essentialism – Tracking Rival Views of Legitimacy as a Right to Rule
(with Johan Vorland Wibye) Oxford Journal of Legal Studies 43 (2023), p. 497-519.
DOI doi.org/10.1093/ojls/gqad006
The Intransparency of Political Legitimacy
Philosophers' Imprint 23 (2023).
DOI doi.org/10.3998/phimp.1533
Freedom to Roam
Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy 21 (2022), p. 209-233.
DOI 10.26556/jesp.v21i2.1365.
In Defence of Non-Ideal Political Deference
Episteme 19 (2022), p. 264-285.
DOI 10.1017/epi.2020.26.
Legitimate Power without Authority: The Transmission Model
Law and Philosophy 39 (2020), p. 119-146.
DOI 10.1007/s10982-019-09369-z.
Indirect Instrumentalism about Political Legitimacy
Moral Philosophy and Politics 6 (2019), p. 175-202.
DOI 10.1515/mopp-2018-0024.
The Concept of Political Competence
Critical Review 30 (2018), p. 163-193.
DOI 10.1080/08913811.2018.1572974.
Coordination cannot establish Political Authority
Ratio Juris 31 (2018), p. 49-69.
DOI 10.1111/raju.12193.
Political Anti-Intentionalism
Res Publica 24 (2018), p. 159-179.
DOI 10.1007/s11158-016-9347-9.
Published Paper
Disjunctive Duties and Supererogatory Sets of Actions
Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements 77 (2015), p. 67-86.
DOI 10.1017/S135824611500020X.
Draft with Abstract
Contributions to Collected Volumes
Legitimacy without Political Obligation: The Revisionist View
in George Klosko (ed.), Oxford Handbook of Political Obligation, Oxford University Press (forthcoming)
Other Publications
Introduction to Special Issue
Moral Philosophy and Politics (forthcoming), with Anthony Taylor
Book Review: Hanoch Dagan, A Liberal Theory of Property
Journal of Moral Philosophy (forthcoming)
Textbook Chapter: “Authority”
Jubb and Tomlin (eds.), Issues in Political Theory, Oxford University Press (5th ed., forthcoming) (with Laura Valentini)
Book Review: Arthur Applbaum, Legitimacy: The Right to Rule in a Wanton World
Perspectives on Politics 18 (2020), 1203-1204
Work In Progress
Contact me for copies of the following papers.
A Principled Refutation of Consent Theory
Philosophical Competence, the Epistocratic Slide, and the Demands of Interdisciplinarity
Degrees of Legitimacy
What, if anything, is wrong with inflation?
Talks
For an up-to-date list of talks I've given, contact me for a CV.
Teaching

Example materials are here, student evaluations here.

Seminars
Summer 2024
Marx and Marxism
LMU Munich
Summer 2024
Consent in Ethics and Politics
LMU Munich
Winter 2023
The Legitimacy of the State
LMU Munich
Winter 2023
(BA/MA) Thesis Colloquium
LMU Munich
Summer 2023
Classic Social Contract Theories
LMU Munich
Summer 2023
Philosophy of Money
LMU Munich
Winter 2022
What is Law?
LMU Munich
Winter 2022
Democracy and Populism
LMU Munich
Summer 2022
Rawls
LMU Munich
Summer 2022
Freedom of Speech
LMU Munich
Winter 2021
Disagreement
LMU Munich
Winter 2021
Applied Topics in Capitalism
LMU Munich
Fall 2019
Capitalism
University of Virginia
6.2019
Anarchism
Universität Bayreuth
Spring 2019
Capstone (Thesis) Course
University of Virginia
12.2018
Collective Welfare
Universität Bayreuth
Fall 2018
Philosophy of Economics
University of Virginia
Spring 2018
Capstone (Thesis) Course
University of Virginia
Fall 2017
Democracy
University of Virginia
12.2016
20th Century Libertarianism
Universität Bayreuth
1.2016
Moral Contractualism
Universität Bayreuth
With Annette Zimmermann.
1.2015
Modern Consequentialism
Universität Bayreuth
2013-2016
Advanced Introduction to Philosophy
Universität Bayreuth
12.2012
Democracy in Contemporary Political Philosophy
Universität Bayreuth
Lectures
2014
Philosophy of Economics
Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford
2013
Rights
Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford
With Marinella Capriati.
Thesis Supervision
Bachelor's Theses
Five Bachelor's Theses in Philosophy (1 Oxford, 4 LMU)
Master's Theses
One Master's Theses in Philosophy (LMU)
Tutorials
2013/4, 2014/5
Moral and Political Philosophy
Faculty of Law, University of Oxford
2013/4, 2014/5
Moral Philosophy (prelims)
The Queen's College, Oxford
2014/5
Moral Philosophy (revision class)
St Catherine's, Oxford
2013/4
Political Theory
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
With Marinella Capriati.
Teaching Assistance
2009/10
Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy
Universität Bayreuth
2009
Game and Decision Theory I
Universität Bayreuth
2008
Presentation and Writing Skills
Universität Bayreuth
2007/8
Introduction to Philosophy
Universität Bayreuth
Service
forthcoming
Special Issue of Moral Philosophy and Politics
Guest Editor
5.2022
Workshop: Ruling in a Wanton World: Arthur Applbaum’s Work and the Philosophy of Legitimacy Beyond the State
Co-Organiser
6.2020
PluriCourts Annual Workshop on the Political and Legal Theory of International Courts and Tribunals
Co-Organiser
5.2015
Oxford Political Theory Graduate Conference
Co-Organiser
5.2014-10.2014
Population Ethics: Theory and Practice
Future of Humanity Institute, Oxford
Research Assistant
10.2013-2015
Value Seminar
Co-Organiser
1.2013-6.2015
Ockham Society
Co-Organiser / Lead Organiser
2.2012-11.2012
Oxford Philosophy Graduate Conference
Co-Organiser / Reviewer