Paul Jenner

Paul Jenner is a Lecturer in English at Loughborough University and co-lead of the Contemporary Research Group. He holds a D.Phil from Nottingham University (2001), focusing on Stanley Cavell’s engagement with analytic philosophy, and an MA (1996). A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2015, his work bridges philosophy and literature, emphasizing Cavell’s dialogues with Kuhn, Rorty, and Santayana.

• Education: MA (1996), D.Phil (2001) from Nottingham University

Research interests center on 20th-century American philosophy, particularly Stanley Cavell’s critiques of skepticism and his intersections with analytic philosophy, literature, and film. Investigations into figures like Kuhn, Rorty, Santayana, and authors such as Marilynne Robinson and Jonathan Franzen reveal thematic preoccupations with ethics, existentialism, and narrative form.

Recent publications (2022) analyze Cavell’s engagement with crisis theory, Kuhn’s philosophy of science, and literary responses to scepticism. Earlier works (2016–2011) explore postmodern literature and Cavell’s film theory. His 2002 monograph traces Cavell’s intellectual development.

• Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2015)

Advising focuses on PhD students exploring Cavellian themes, though specific supervisees are not listed. Active in the Contemporary Research Group, he collaborates on interdisciplinary projects linking philosophy and contemporary culture.