Is it true that political theory is fundamentally practised as a kind of ‘thinking about thinking’? Is it right to say that this involves turning mental ‘facts’ into political ‘principles’? Could we instead use facts about behaviour to grounds such principles? And what about the empirical evidence used in each argument? Do studies in ‘experimental ethics’ used against mentalism still hold up? And, in turn, does the social-scientific literature on insurrection and crime still support the idea that normative behaviourism leads to ‘social-liberal-democracy’?

With these questions and others in mind, political philosophers of all stripes, and at all career levels, are warmly invited to take part, either in person or online in this one-day event focused on these two ideas of mentalism and normative behaviourism.

Confirmed speakers on the day include: Alice Baderin (Reading), David Miller (Oxford), Tariq Modood (Bristol), Nahshon Perez (Bar Ilan), and Jonathan Floyd (Bristol).

If you would like to take part either online or in person please contact Martin Rogard: [email protected].