معرفی
Jimmy Lenman is a Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, within the School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities. He has held this position after previous academic appointments at the University of Glasgow (as Lecturer then Senior Lecturer), Lancaster University (as Lecturer), and graduate studies at St Andrews University. His career includes a notable Faculty Fellowship at Harvard University's Center for Ethics and the Professions during 2002-2003.
Professor Lenman received his BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from St Catherine's College, Oxford University, followed by an M.Phil. and PhD in Moral Philosophy from St Andrews University. His doctoral thesis was titled "Realism and Idealism in the Theory of Value."
Lenman's research focuses primarily on ethics and metaethics, with particular interest in moral realism, moral expressivism, moral psychology, moral epistemology, and moral responsibility. His work explores the intersection of these areas with compatibilism, consequentialism, contractualism, constructivism, and moral contingency. He has made significant contributions to understanding how moral language functions and how moral judgments relate to human psychology and reasoning processes. His recent work culminates in his 2024 book "The Possibility of Moral Community," which examines whether genuine moral community is possible given fundamental disagreements about moral values.
Lenman's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on metaethical questions, particularly the nature of moral language, moral reasoning, and the possibility of moral knowledge. His work often engages critically with contemporary theories while developing his own distinctive positions. A notable thread throughout his career has been examining how moral judgments function in human cognition and communication, with increasing attention to the social dimensions of moral discourse and the possibility of moral community despite deep disagreements.
- Faculty Fellow at the Center for Ethics and the Professions, Harvard University (2002-2003)
- Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship (2025-2028) for "Moral Knowledge and Democratic Community: An Essay on Ethics and Expertise"
- President of the British Society for Ethical Theory (2002-2008)
- Secretary of the British Society for Ethical Theory (1996-2002)
Professor Lenman has supervised numerous PhD students, both currently and in the past. His current PhD students include Brendan Kelters (Ethics), James Dunstan (Manipulativeness), Pascal Ally (Metaethics), and Charlie Potter (Meaning). Among his former students are Jingbo Hu (Moral Responsibility), Lewis Brooks (Metaethics), Graham Bex-Priestley (Metaethics), Stephen Ingram (Metaethics), Carl Fox (Contractualism), and several others who completed AHRC-funded projects on topics ranging from war ethics to moral naturalism. His research has been supported by prestigious fellowships including the Leverhulme Trust.
While not specifically affiliated with a dedicated research lab, Lenman is actively involved with the British Society for Ethical Theory and the broader philosophical community through editorial roles including the Editorial Committee for Utilitas and the Editorial Board for the European Journal of Analytic Philosophy. His work contributes significantly to Sheffield's reputation in moral philosophy and metaethics.
