Caroline West

Dr. Caroline West is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sydney, affiliated with the Vere Gordon Childe Centre and the Charles Perkins Centre. She holds a PhD in Philosophy from the Australian National University (1997) and previously taught at Monash University and Macquarie University. Her research focuses on metaphysics (particularly personal identity), ethics, political philosophy, the philosophy of happiness and well-being, applied ethics, and feminist philosophy. She has contributed to debates on free speech, pornography, and human rights.

Her work bridges theoretical and applied domains, with publications in Oxford Studies in Metaphysics, Australasian Philosophical Review, and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Recent projects include examining the ethics of racist speech, feminist moral theory, and interventions in public health. She has secured grants for research on human rights frameworks and autonomy in healthcare.

Dr. West’s media engagements include ABC Radio National’s The Philosopher’s Zone, discussing topics like parenting and happiness. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates philosophy with psychology, law, and public policy.