Matthew Kramer

Matthew Kramer is the Churchill College Professor of Legal and Political Philosophy at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Law. He holds academic qualifications including B.A. (Cornell), J.D. (Harvard), Ph.D., and LL.D. (Cambridge). His research focuses on Legal Philosophy, Political Philosophy, and Moral Philosophy. He leads the Cambridge Forum for Legal and Political Philosophy (CFLPP), a key center for UK analytic legal and political philosophy. Kramer is a Fellow of the British Academy (F.B.A.) and has authored influential works such as Freedom of Expression as Self-Restraint (2021) and Liberalism with Excellence (2017). His scholarship critically engages with H.L.A. Hart's legal positivism, rights theory, and moral realism. Recent publications explore Hohfeldian analysis, legal normativity, and liberal principles in contexts like hate-speech regulation.

Education: B.A. Cornell University, J.D. Harvard Law School, Ph.D. and LL.D. from Cambridge University. His work bridges legal theory, political morality, and moral philosophy, addressing topics such as the death penalty, torture ethics, and the boundaries of liberal tolerance. Kramer’s interdisciplinary approach is evident in contributions to debates on constitutional design, rights ontology, and the intersections between law and moral obligation.

• Awards: Fellow of the British Academy (F.B.A.)
• Key Roles: Director of CFLPP, Member of Faculty of Law
• Research Groups: Cambridge Forum for Legal and Political Philosophy

His publications span over 50 books and articles, including critiques of legal positivism and defenses of moral realism. Kramer’s recent work emphasizes the philosophical foundations of rights and the ethical dimensions of legal practice, reflecting his commitment to advancing analytic jurisprudence.