Professor David Owens

David Owens came to King’s after teaching Philosophy at Sheffield University and Reading University. He has also held visiting appointments at All Souls College, Oxford, Yale University, London University, Sydney University, New York University and the University of Lublin. His 2012 book Shaping the Normative Landscape focuses on blame, wronging and obligation and their involvement in forgiveness, friendship, promising and consent. A collection of his papers entitled Normativity and Control was published by Oxford University Press in 2017.

His latest monograph Bound by Convention​ was published by OUP in 2022. For more information about his work please click here.

Research interests and PhD supervision

• Normative Ethics
• Epistemic and Practical Normativity
• Early Modern Political and Ethical Philosophy
• Foundations of Private Law

Teaching

I currently teach undergraduate and MA courses in normative ethics.

Expertise and public engagement

I’ve reviewed on many occasions for the Times Literary Supplement. I also give public lectures and participate in panel discussions at several festivals and other events.