About
Welcome to the Royal Institute of Philosophy, the UK’s largest independent charitable foundation devoted to sharing philosophical thinking as widely as possible. Addressing ourselves to fundamental questions across the whole breadth of philosophy, we aim to bring these questions to the curious of every age and background, and to empower them to address these questions for themselves.
Our history
The Royal Institute of Philosophy was formally established in 1925 to educate the public in the subject of philosophy’ and to explore ‘matters which constitute the deepest and most permanent interests of the human spirit’. We continue to do so today.
Contact us
If you have any inquiries, or want to find out more, get in touch.
Our team
Dr Stephen Law
Dr Stephen Law is currently Director of the Certificate in Higher and Education and Director of Philosophy at The Department of Continuing Education, University of Oxford. Law was previously Reader in Philosophy and Head of Department of Philosophy at Heythrop College, University of London, and a Junior Research Fellow at The Queen’s College Oxford. He researches in Philosophy of Mind, Religion, Language, and Metaphysics, and has also published numerous introductory philosophy books, including books for children.
Dr William Godwin KC
Dr William Godwin KC is a London-based King’s Counsel and Visiting Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy at King’s College London.
Dr Godwin is The Royal Institute of Philosophy’s first Centenary Distinguished Member. This new membership category, introduced to mark our centenary, is designed to honour individuals who have given of their time, networks or resources to help the Royal Institute in its mission – as our founders put it in 1925 – ‘to educate the public in philosophy’, expanding our audiences and bringing opportunities to anyone who wishes to learn more about the subject, whether or not they have studied it before.
Members of the Executive Committee
Our Executive Committee members are trustees of the charity and serve on the editorial board of the Institute’s journals, Philosophy and Think.
Professor Ben Colburn
Professor Beth Lord
Professor Lucy O'Brien
Dr Léa Salje
Professor Constantine Sandis
Professor Sarah Sawyer
Dr Rachael Wiseman
Dr David Edmonds
Professor James Wilson
Professor Hallvard Lillehammer
Professor Susan James
Members of the Council
Our large Council appoints the Executive Committee, and helps to determine the policies that we adopt as an educational charity and as a company limited by guarantee.
Policies and governance
Our charitable purpose is to advance the education of the public in the subject of philosophy. Our main governing document was drafted in 1925 when the Institute was founded, and revised in 2009.
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