معرفی
Aurelia Armstrong is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Queensland's School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry within the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. She serves as Discipline Engagement lead in the Philosophy discipline and maintains an active research profile while teaching undergraduate courses in philosophy. Her institutional affiliation reflects her commitment to historical and philosophical inquiry within one of Australia's leading research universities.
Dr Armstrong's educational background includes a BA(Hons) from Australian National University (1992) and a PhD from the University of Sydney (1998). This strong academic foundation has supported her development as a specialist in European philosophy with particular expertise in the works of Spinoza, Nietzsche, and Foucault.
Her research interests span a rich interdisciplinary terrain including history of philosophy, Spinoza studies, Nietzsche studies, Foucault studies, modern European philosophy, social and political philosophy, ethics, gender studies, affect theory, and relational autonomy. Armstrong's work consistently explores the intersections between philosophical theory and practical application, particularly examining how concepts of freedom, power, and relationality operate in both historical and contemporary contexts. She approaches philosophical inquiry as a therapeutic practice that connects theoretical insights with lived experience.
Analysis of Armstrong's publications reveals a consistent focus on Spinoza's ethical and political philosophy, with particular attention to concepts of freedom, power dynamics, affect theory, and relational autonomy. Her work demonstrates a sophisticated engagement with continental philosophy while maintaining relevance to contemporary political and ethical concerns. Over time, her scholarship has evolved from historical analysis of philosophical texts toward more applied explorations of how philosophical insights can address current social and political challenges, particularly regarding hope, agency, and ethical self-cultivation in complex modern contexts.
Dr Armstrong maintains an active supervisory role, having guided numerous PhD and Master's students through their research projects spanning diverse philosophical topics from Nietzsche's ethics to Foucauldian analyses of institutional practices. Her research has been supported by grants including a UQ Early Career Researcher Open grant (2007-2008) for 'Affective Therapy: Emotion, Freedom and Ethics in Spinoza' and a UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund (2003-2006) for 'The Subject, Power and Freedom: Spinoza, Nietzsche, Foucault.'
