Christopher Cowley

Dr. Christopher Cowley is an Associate Professor at the School of Philosophy, University College Dublin (UCD). He holds academic roles including Deputy Head of School (since 2021), Quality Review Co-ordinator, and has previously served as Associate Dean of Social Sciences (2019–2020). His research focuses on ethical theory, applied ethics, philosophy of law, and philosophy of value. Cowley’s work often bridges legal and moral philosophy, examining topics like conscientious objection in healthcare, family ethics, and biomedical ethics.

Education: BA (University of London), MPhil (University College Dublin), MA (University of Montreal), PhD (University of Bristol). He has held academic positions at the University of Hertfordshire (2005–2007) and the University of East Anglia Medical School (2001–2005) before joining UCD in 2007.

Research Interests: His studies emphasize ethical dilemmas in healthcare, conscientious objection, family ethics, and the intersection of law and morality. Recent work explores topics like forgiveness, risk aversion in moral judgments, and the ethics of assisted suicide. His articles frequently address applied ethics in medical contexts and legal frameworks.

Teaching: Coordinates modules such as Philosophy of Law, Ethics, and Philosophy of Autobiography. He integrates ethical theory with practical applications, particularly in medical and legal domains.

Grants: Secured funding for projects like 'Understanding Negligent Liability' (2020–2023) and 'The Place of Conscience in Democratic Dissent' (2014–2015). These projects reflect his focus on legal-ethical intersections and conscientious objection.

Languages: Fluent in French and Czech (read/write/speak), reads German and Italian. These skills support cross-cultural research in continental philosophy and legal systems.