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I teach because I enjoy it! I feel incredibly lucky to be able to earn money for having interesting conversations with intelligent people, challenging them to think differently. Philosophy, perhaps more than any subject, is indistinguishable from the art of teaching it. To philosophise is to teach philosophy. Too often people will treat it as a research subject that is all about reading the books you want to read and writing the books you want to write. For me, it is about reaching out and making people think.
Don't get caught up in the idea of getting the answers right and don't be afraid to ask questions. It's not true to say "there is no right and wrong in philosophy", but it is true to say that it is not about facts; it is about arguments: understanding them, assessing them and constructing them. The way we'll teach you to do that is by encouraging you to try and to not worry about getting it wrong. There is no such thing as a perfect philosopher!
The one thing all of my teaching is geared towards is explaining why the topic matters, why you should care about it, and what we expect you to do with it. For that reason, I build my courses around a narrative that ties everything together, telling a story about the history of the ideas and figures involved. I also find virtual learning environments essential, and use podcasts and other online resources to help you do well. Finally, I do my best to make sure you don't need to buy the texts by, where possible, making them available digitally.
MA European Philosophy (MMU)
BA (Hons) Philosophy
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Philosophy is a great subject to learn at university. It gives you perspective on many issues, letting you find your place in the world as a confident, critical thinker. It isn't just about learning about interesting arguments, but learning how to assess and construct interesting and convincing arguments. In other words, it is education in the classical sense of being challenged to develop your self.
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
The philosophy of Martin Heidegger
MJ. Barnard (2021). The Kantian basis of Bergson's conception of freedom. In: The Bergsonian Mind. Routledge, pp.86-98.
Two Concepts of Anxiety, Heidegger and Satre on Freedom, BSP Annual Conference 2017
The Silent Call: Heidegger and McCarthy on Talking to Yourself, Cormac McCarthy Workshop, July 2017.
Heidegger and Freedom, PubHD Manchester, 2016.
Freedom Beyond the Will: Heidegger on Finite Liberty, Nottingham Trent University, 2015
Philosophy: Why Bother? MMU Philosophy Cooperative, 2012
Future of Phenomenology: British Society for Phenomenology Annual Conference, September 2016
Phenomenology: Theory and Practice: British Society for Phenomenology Annual Conference, September 2017
I am an editor for the Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
British Society for Phenomenology
British Society for the History of Philosophy