The Oxford Philosophy, Law, and Politics (PLP) Colloquium is an interdisciplinary series that brings together scholars from philosophy, law, politics, and related fields to discuss works in progress by distinguished researchers.
In the 2026–27 academic year, the Colloquium will take a new direction. Reflecting the growing importance of artificial intelligence across all domains of inquiry, the series will focus on cutting-edge AI research of significance for philosophy, law, and politics. Our speakers will be drawn from Oxford and London institutions and will include leading researchers from psychology and neuroscience, philosophy, computer science, and engineering.
The series is cheekily entitled What Philosophers, Lawyers, and Political Theorists Should Know About AI Research. Its aim is to bring scholars working on the technical frontiers of AI into conversation with members of the PLP community. We invite you to come and learn about the AI research being conducted by our Oxford and London colleagues that bears directly on questions of philosophical, legal, and political importance.
Each session will consist of a 45–50 minute non-technical presentation by the invited speaker, followed by discussion and Q&A. No prior technical background or pre-reading is required.
The 2026–27 Colloquium is co-sponsored by the Oxford Institute for Ethics in AI, and all talks will be held in the Schwarzman Centre. The series is co-convened by Ruth Chang, David Enoch, and Edward Harcourt.
Accompanying each Colloquium will be a seminar for students, convened by Ruth Chang, in Room 2, 12 Merton Street (access via the University College Porter’s Lodge).
Registration is not required.
For further information, please contact [email protected].
2025–26
15 October 2025
Regina Rini (York, Canada) Alone in the Light: How Enlightenment errors threaten democracy today
With comments by David Enoch (Oxford)
5–7 p.m. · Old Library, All Souls College
Student seminar14 October 2025, 3–5 p.m., University College, 12 Merton Street, Room 2. Convened by Ruth Chang.
3 December 2025
Trashification
With comments by Cécile Fabre (Oxford)
5–7 p.m. · Old Library, All Souls College
Student seminar2 December 2025, 3–5 p.m., University College, 12 Merton Street, Room 2. Convened by Ruth Chang.
13 May 2026
The Radical Duke
With comments by Jo Wolff (Oxford)
5–7 p.m. · Old Library, All Souls College
Pre-read event: please focus on the prologue and chapter 2 of the paper.
2024–25
17 October 2024
Margaret Levi (Stanford University) Expanding the Community of Fate by Expanding the Community of Care
5–7 p.m. · Old Library, All Souls College
21 November 2024
Lord Jonathan Mance (Former Deputy President of the UK Supreme Court) The Judiciary and the Role of Law in a Changing World
5–6:30 p.m. · 10 Merton Street Lecture Theatre (enter through University College Lodge)
Tea 4–5 p.m. in the Alington Room beforehand. No paper for this session.
27 February 2025
Stuart Russell (University of California, Berkeley) Provably Beneficial AI
With comments by Caroline Green and Philipp Koralus
5–6:30 p.m. · Weston Bodleian Library
Co-sponsored with the Oxford Institute for Ethics in AI.
14 May 2025
Stefan Gosepath (Free University, Berlin) In Defense of Term Limitations on Property Rights
With comments by
Cécile Fabre (Oxford Politics and Philosophy)5–7 p.m. · Old Library, All Souls College
21 May 2025
Elizabeth Anderson (University of Michigan) With comments by
David Enoch (Oxford Law and Philosophy)5–7 p.m. · Old Library, All Souls College
2023–24
The Colloquium was on hiatus during 2023–24.
2022–23
14 October 2022
Why Tax Wealth?
2–4 p.m. · Old Library, All Souls College
28 November 2022
Catharine A. MacKinnon (U Michigan / Harvard) Exploring Transgender Politics: A Conversation
3–5 p.m. · Sir Joseph Hotung Auditorium, Mansfield College
Co-sponsored with the Feminist Jurisprudence Discussion Group and the Jurisprudence Discussion Group.
29 November 2022
Catharine A. MacKinnon (U Michigan / Harvard) Rape Redefined
5–7 p.m. · Sir Joseph Hotung Auditorium, Mansfield College
Co-sponsored with the Bonavero Centre for Human Rights.
2 March 2023
Seth Lazar (Australian National University) Algorithmic Governance and Political Philosophy: Governing the Algorithmic City
5–7 p.m. · Old Library, All Souls College
Cancelled due to strike action.
26 May 2023
Self Application
With comments by
Jo Wolff (Blavatnik School of Government)5–7 p.m. · 10 Merton Street Lecture Theatre
2021–22
11 November 2021
Democratic Politics: Duty Delegation without Abdication
Online.
27 January 2022
System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How to Reboot (book discussion)
Online, a joint event with the Oxford Institute for Ethics in AI.
24 February 2022
On Being Blameless Among One’s Contemporaries
Online.
5 May 2022
African American Narrative Jurisprudence
Old Library, All Souls College
Cancelled due to speaker illness.
27 May 2022
Structural Injustice: Managing Social Coordination in Complex Systems
Old Library, All Souls College
2020–21
30 October 2020
Miranda Fricker (CUNY)
Bernard Williams As A Philosopher of Ethical Freedom
With comments by Alison Hills (Oxford Philosophy)
Online.
13 November 2020
Procreation, Immigration, and the Future of Humanity
Online.
20 January 2021
Behavioural Welfare Economics
Online.
7 May 2021
Doxastic Wrongs and True Beliefs
Online.
2019–20
17 October 2019
Saving Human Rights from Human Rights Law
4 March 2020
Postponed due to strike action.
7 May 2020
Cancelled due to the pandemic.