KCL and Sussex

Back to news about threats to close philosophy departments and the resistance to them. It appears that the philosophers at Kings College London have won their battle as the latest consultation document published there shows a new commitment to keep them all in place (and includes a decision to keep the threatened chair in palaeography). This victory, in response to a large campaign, is definitely to be celebrated.


By contrast, over at Sussex University there appears to be rather less good news as the management there have decided to charge students for a sit-in in protest at plans to make staff redundant, something that has prompted a letter of protest in the Guardian. 

Middlesex Philosophy Department the Latest Under Threat

The story of the problems at King's College London has been put into perspective as part of a general onslaught on philosophy in the UK. The latest Department under threat is the Centre for European Philosophy at Middlesex University. It is intended that it be entirely closed. A letter from the members of staff there detailing the decision of the faculty and responding to it is reproduced over at  The Third Estate and some indications of a campaign against this are detailed over at infinite thought.


The Philosophy Dept at Middlesex is one of only half-a-dozen in the UK that specialises in European philosophy so its loss would, as such, be particularly significant.