DRAFT WORK
Books in Progress
I am also writing a longer book with the working title The Fundamentals of Normativity, discussing normativity, evaluation and their contraries. The focus is specifically on (i) what the foundational normative concept is - deontic notions, reasons, oughts, values, 'fit' or norms (I think they are as foundational as each other); (ii) how the normative relates to its contraries - the positive, the descriptive, etc.; and (iii) how these two topics relate to each other.
Here is a draft of the first two chapters:
During 2025 and early 2026 I am writing a short book with the working title of Comedy and Free Speech, thinking about the special place professional comedy has in the public sphere and what reasons there are for granting performers special comic licence to say controversial, edgy things, and what the limits of such performance and speech are and why. I will post a draft when it is ready.
At some point I will start writing a new book, The Ethics of Imitation, connecting intellectual property rights with cultural appropriation and many other examples. Imitation, copying, appropriating can be forces for good, but also can offend and harm. What are the ethical limits of imitation?
The draft work on drag performance below is part of this. As you'll see at the bottom, I also do drag / panto.
Draft Articles and Papers
'Conceptual Disagreement and the Epistemology of Disagreement',
with Steve Pethick
'The Concept-Conception Distinction', (detailed handout)
with Steve Pethick
'Is Drag Morally Objectionable?'
(detailed handout)
