PLP Graduate Forum: Seminar Nº1 - Westeren, 'Against Treason: An Argument from Political Obligation'

The Philosophy, Law & Politics Graduate Forum (PLP Graduate Forum) is a network of doctoral candidates, early career researchers and established academics working in legal, moral, and political philosophy from seven institutions in Southern England: University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Surrey, London School of Economics & Political Science, King's College London, Queen Mary University of London, and University College London.

The Graduate Forum aims to provide a platform for graduate students to present and discuss their work in progress, as well as to enrich the collaborations among researchers working in legal, moral, and political theory. The Forum is run by a Student Executive Committee and a Faculty Oversight Committee from each of the member institutions. You can read more about this iniciative here.

Our first session of the year will be taking place next Wednesday 20, November at 5 pm. The event will be hybrid, so you can either join us in person at University College's Goodhart Seminar Room in Oxford or online.

We will be discussing Felix Westeren’s (LSE) paper, Against Treason: An Argument from Political Obligation. Felix argues that the distinct moral wrong of treason lies not in betrayal, but in the way treasonous acts undermine the ability of the traitor and of their co-nationals to fulfill their political obligations. If these obligations are important, then treason can be a serious and separate presumptive wrong. You can find the paper here: Westeren, Against Treason_0.pdf

Our presentation will begin with comments from Juliet Paiva (Oxford), followed by comments from Cécile Fabre (Oxford).