Postgraduate "Work In Progress" Seminar
Postgraduate Work-In-Progress SeminarA weekly seminar for Philosophy postgraduates to present their in-progress work, followed by a well-spirited trip to the pub. OverviewThe WIP provides a risk-free and supportive space for postgraduates to present their work and receive feedback from other graduates and faculty.
Attendance optional but highly recommended. All postgraduates are welcome to present or attend -- whether MA, MPhil, PhD, Visitors, etc. Useful InfoThe WIP is a unique opportunity for graduates to develop their presenting and writing skills, take risks, test out ideas, and receive constructive feedback from peers.
Presentations need not be watertight or polished pieces at all. You are encouraged to present work at all stages of the writing process. Should you present?Are you a postgraduate? Then yes, you should present. |
NEXT TALKRozemin Keshvani (PhD) Kant Thursday 25/06/2026 5pm - 6:15pm S1.50 ORGANISERS |
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PG Work in Progress Seminar
We are very pleased to be discussing a paper by MPhil student Sailee Khurjekar. The abstract for Sailee鈥檚 paper is below, and the paper itself is attached for those who wish to read it ahead of time. We look forward to engaging with such a vital topic.
Establishing the Place of Race: A Critical Evaluation of Cultural Constructionism
The metaphysics of race has presented competing theories about the definition and role of human races, alongside debates surrounding the existence of races. Social constructionists on race are concerned with the nature of race and the way that it latches on to our social reality. There are two strands of social constructionism on race: political constructionism and cultural constructionism. This paper is a critical evaluation of Chike Jeffers鈥� cultural constructionist account of race. I will posit three criticisms of Jeffers鈥� position, all pertaining to his claim that races ought to be preserved in a post-racist world. The form of my criticisms is as follows:
(1) Criticism 1: Single and Unified Culture by Race
A single and unified culture by race does not exist after the end of racism.
(2) Criticism 2: Racial Difference
Racial difference cannot be celebrated in a utopian world because such difference ceases to exist.
(3) Criticism 3: White Supremacism
The preservation of racialised people worryingly blurs the line between White pride and White supremacism.
I hope that the thesis will show: The significance of the social construction of race; the benefits of adopting Jeffers鈥� cultural constructionist account of race; and the drawbacks of preserving racial groups after the end of racism.