Colloquium in Legal, Political, and Social Philosophy
NYU’s Colloquium in Legal, Political and Social Philosophy has been running for many years, and brings internationally renowned legal, moral and political theorists to the Law School for intensive discussions of their work in progress. The public sessions of the Colloquium are open to all and take place in the fall term on Thursdays, in the Lester Pollack Colloquium Room in Furman Hall on the 9th floor from 4-7pm.
The Colloquium is regularly attended by faculty and students from the Law School, the Philosophy Department, the Political Science Department and the Economics Department at NYU, as well as faculty from other universities in and near to New York. Those who wish to attend the Colloquium but do not have an NYU ID card should contact Omar Andron to arrange for building access.
Colloquium Schedule 2025
Professors Liam Murphy and Samuel Scheffler
August 28th
Michael Otsuka, Rutgers University
Reciprocity, Justifiability to Each, and the Difference Principle
September 4th
Christine Korsgaard, Harvard University
Natural History of the Good Selections
September 11th
Japa Pallikkathayil, University of Pittsburgh
Rethinking Rights
September 18th
Liam Murphy, NYU
If You Do Have the Power to Promise, We’ll Grant you All the Rest: Against (Natural) Normative Powers
Legal Practice and the Responsibility of Individuals
September 25th
Melissa Schwartzberg, NYU
The Impartial Jury and Democracy
October 9th
T.M. Scanlon, Harvard University
Contractualism and Intuitionism
October 16th
Deborah Hellman, University of Virginia
Why The Proxy Problem Is So Hard
October 23rd
Lucas Stanczyk, Harvard University
The Idea of a Liberal Capitalism
To request a copy of this paper, please email Liam Murphy at liam.murphy@nyu.edu
October 30th
Miranda Fricker, NYU
Minimalist Blame: From Normative Function to Core Definition
November 6th
Jeremy Waldron, NYU
Quain Lectures 2025: Back To Principles
November 13th
Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Georgetown University
Action as Co-Production: Defending A Constructivist Theory of Action
November 20th
Wendy Salkin, Stanford University
Writers Are Not Congressmen
Students taking the Colloquium for credit:
Students enrolled in the Colloquium meet separately with the conveners for an additional two-hour seminar on Wednesdays. One hour is devoted to a review of the preceding Thursday’s colloquium discussion, and one hour to preparation for the colloquium the following day.
Students are asked to write short reaction papers weekly, and each student is asked to make two or more oral presentations to the seminar during the term. Assessment is based on participation, reaction papers, presentations, and a final term paper.
Admission to the seminar is only by permission of the conveners. Students wishing to take the colloquium for credit should send their applications via e-mail to Omar Andron <owa207@nyu.edu> between July 1 and July 31, stating their background in law and philosophy and their interest in the colloquium. The application should use the subject line: Colloquium in Legal, Political, and Social Philosophy Application for Fall 2025. Please indicate which program you are enrolled in. Students not in the School of Law or Department of Philosophy at NYU should check with Academic Services about eligibility to register.
Past Colloquium Papers
Fall 2024
Fall 2023
Fall 2022
Fall 2021
Fall 2020
Fall 2019
Fall 2018
Fall 2017
Fall 2016
Fall 2015
Fall 2014
Fall 2011
Fall 2010
Fall 2009
Fall 2007
Fall 2006
Fall 2005
Fall 2003
Fall 2002
Fall 2001