Dr Sam Clark
Senior LecturerResearch Interests
I am a philosopher interested in the self; in good and bad lives it might lead (aka welfare, well-being); in its reflexive powers and practices; in the roles of experience, reflection, and institutions in its development and success; and in how to do philosophy so as to advance our understanding of these issues.
These interests have lead me to think, write, and teach about capitalism and anarchism; utopias, dialogues, and autobiographies; pleasure, self-discovery, and self-realization; self-knowledge, self-interpretation, and self-command; the lives and experiences of monks, soldiers, hermits, and solo travellers; and the transformative effects of work and war.
My recent work has been philosophy of and through autobiography, and as part of it I have published articles in journals including Inquiry, Ratio, Res Publica, The Journal of Applied Philosophy, and Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, and a book, Good Lives (Oxford University Press 2021).
I am currently writing a book about the relations between philosophies of the self and philosophies of welfare, making use of speculative fiction about alien and artificial selves. I'm blogging about this, mostly in support of a special subject on the draft, at https://welfareandselfbook.wordpress.com/.
Current Teaching
Michaelmas 2024:
- PPR207 Moral Philosophy
- PPR450 What is Philosophy? (1 week)
Lent 2025:
- PHIL101 Moral and Political Philosophy (5-week lecture segment)
My Role
My main role is teaching, researching, and writing philosophy.
I am Lancaster's Academic Lead to the NWCDTP, which distributes funding for PhD study in the arts and humanities in universities in the North West.
I am PPR's Disabilities Rep. Please get in touch if I can help with any disability-related matter.
Career Details
I did an undergraduate degree in philosophy at York (1996), the BPhil at Queen's College Oxford (2000), and a PhD in political philosophy at York (2004). Before starting my current job at Lancaster in 2007, I taught at the universities of York, Leeds, and Glasgow.
Research Overview
I am a philosopher interested in the self; in good and bad lives it might lead (aka welfare, well-being); in its reflexive powers and practices; in the roles of experience, reflection, and institutions in its development and success; and in how to do philosophy so as to advance our understanding of these issues.
These interests have lead me to think, write, and teach about capitalism and anarchism; utopias, dialogues, and autobiographies; pleasure, self-discovery, and self-realization; self-knowledge, self-interpretation, and self-command; the lives and experiences of monks, soldiers, hermits, and solo travellers; and the transformative effects of work and war.
My recent work has been philosophy of and through autobiography, and as part of it I have published articles in journals including Inquiry, Ratio, Res Publica, The Journal of Applied Philosophy, and Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, and a book, Good Lives (Oxford University Press 2021).
I am currently writing a book about the relations between philosophies of the self and philosophies of welfare, making use of speculative fiction about alien and artificial selves. I'm blogging about this, mostly in support of a special subject on the draft, at https://welfareandselfbook.wordpress.com/.
PhD Supervision Interests
The good life/well-being/welfare. The self. Life in time. The philosophy of war. The philosophy of work and the workplace. Literature and/as philosophy.
Science Fiction, Welfare, and the Self
01/07/2021 → …
Research
Military Lives and Transformative Experiences: Exploring narratives and veterans' well-being
01/10/2017 → 31/03/2020
Research
Soldiers' Ethical Experience
01/05/2013 → …
Other
Capitalism as an Ethical Problem
01/01/2012 → …
Research
Autobiography as Ethics
01/01/2010 → …
Research
Society for Applied Philosophy Annual Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
MANCEPT
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Work in Utopia
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Dialogues in Philosophy
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Civic Health: public talks on living well together 4: Living Well Within Limits
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Civic Health: public talks on living well together 3: Solidarity, Vulnerability, & Civic Health
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Civic Health: public talks on living well together 2: Good Work
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Civic Health: public talks on living well together 1: Civic Health & Civic Vitality
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
- Centre for War and Diplomacy
- CILHR Centre for International Law and Human Rights
- FASS Health Hub