Dr Tom O'Shea
Job Title
Lecturer in Political Theory
Room number
3.03Building (Address)
Chrystal Macmillan BuildingResearch interests
Research interests
- Freedom
- Civic republicanism
- Socialism and radical political traditions
The main focus of my research is human freedom and its relationship to social power. Most recently, I have been developing a 'socialist republican' approach to the problem of economic domination. This builds on my earlier work on freedom and power in the legal regulation of disability.
As well as publishing in political theory, I have also written on topics in social philosophy, metaethics, the history of moral and political thought, philosophy of religion, medical ethics, and the study of autonomy.
My first book, Socialist Republicanism: Freedom and Domination in Economic Life, is forthcoming with Cambridge University Press.
Background
I joined the university in 2022 after having held posts at the Universities of Essex, York, and Roehampton. During 2025, I spent some time as a visiting researcher at the Universitat de Barcelona.
My own academic education has been in philosophy (including a doctorate from the University of Sheffield). But I now work largely at the intersection of political theory and the history of political thought.
At Edinburgh, I lead courses on Freedom and Slavery in Political Thought and Political Thinkers. Currently, I am Co-Director of the CRITIQUE Centre for Ethics and Critical Thought. For the next few years, I am also the external examiner on a cluster of philosophy and PPE undergraduate programmes at the University of Swansea.
Works within
Staff Hours and Guidance
Please get in touch by email if you would like to arrange a meeting.