Dorota Mokrosinska: 'Philosophy sharpens our understanding of everyday moral and political questions'
Dorota Mokrosinska has been Professor of Practical Philosophy since September. High time for a brief introduction about her field and academic interests.
'Practical philosophy is best understood in relation to theoretical philosophy,’ says Mokrosinska. ‘Whereas theoretical philosophy is concerned with abstract questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, or the human mind, practical philosophy also focuses on guidelines for how we ought to act and interact with each other. It delves into the foundations of morality and society, examining values, norms, rights, and ideologies. Its main subfields are ethics, philosophy of law and political philosophy which examine, respectively, the nature of moral norms, law and politics.'
Politics
Practical philosophy's focus on politics, is well reflected in Mokrosinska's own academic portfolio. 'Political philosophy concentrates on questions about the nature of “politics”, government, justice and the relationship between individuals and the state. A political philosopher asks such questions as: What are the best forms of government? Why should we want government at all, rather than anarchist society? What should and should not be subject to state control?'
‘Delving into the issues of political philosophy forces us to look critically at our government and laws, but also our social norms,’ Mokrosinska explains. 'What is and is not appropriate behaviour, and why do we think that? That, too, is part of political philosophy. It gives us a frame of reference to make sense of debates on different political topics, from climate change to taxation and migration.’
Underlying concepts
‘I see teaching philosophy as a very rewarding experience,’ Mokrosinska beams. 'Ethics and political philosophy can call into question common perceptions of good and evil, rights and responsibilities, and thereby problematise everyday moral and political debates. I get satisfaction from helping students appreciate and then analyse this complexity. This clarifies the way we think and take positions in ethical and political discussions.’
'Many of my moral and political philosophy students enter the course with pre-formed images about such issues as good and evil, rights and duties, justice and injustice. As a teacher, my aim is to make them aware of the philosophical ideas and concepts underlying these notions. To achieve this, they need to become familiar not only with the historical context, but also with how these concepts are used in contemporary philosophy to interpret and guide debates around specific moral or political dilemmas facing modern societies. ‘My job is not to change the ideals and political beliefs of my students, but to give them the skills so that they can analyse them for themselves and apply them in a reasoned and well-considered way.’