LOSAK research centre

The Centre builds on Liverpool’s prominent role in Kantian studies in the UK and Europe. Liverpool University is one of the main centres of activities of the UK Kant Society and the Kantian Standing Group of the European Consortium for Political Research, and the university currently hosts the ERC Advanced Grant ‘KantianDESERT’, a major UKRI-funded, ERC-selected Advanced Grant project, entitled ‘Kantian Justice: A Desert-sensitive Responsibility-enhancing Theory’. At the same time, LOSAK develops and strengthens existing research connections with the University of Oxford and University of St Andrews, two institutions where Kantian scholarship is internationally recognised.

The overarching aim of LOSAK is to advance the study of Kantian philosophy in order to asses its merits and limits, and thereby to facilitate its continued development and application. The Centre promotes research not only within philosophy but also across other disciplines, and seeks to encourage the practical use of Kantian ideas in addressing contemporary theoretical and societal challenges.

LOSAK adopts a broad understanding of Kantian studies. Its research encompasses the study of Kant’s predecessors, his own philosophical works, and the diverse traditions that developed in response to them. This covers engagement with both proponents and critics of the Kantian tradition, including historical, exegetical, critical, reconstructive, and applied approaches to Kantian philosophy. Reflecting the breadth of Kant’s own philosophical project, the Centre supports research across a wide range of areas, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of action, philosophy of science, aesthetics, and applied ethics.

A distinctive feature of LOSAK is its emphasis on the systematic and holistic character of Kant’s philosophical project. While research may focus on specific themes or problems, the Centre encourages work that recognises the interconnections between different areas of Kant’s philosophy and between philosophy and other disciplines.

Through conferences, workshops, research projects, and collaborative initiatives, LOSAK aims to foster a vibrant international community of scholars dedicated to exploring the enduring significance of Kantian philosophy.