Philip Schofield

Philip Schofield is a Professor of the History of Legal and Political Thought at University College London (UCL), leading the Bentham Project as its Director and General Editor of the Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham. He holds a BA (Honours) from the University of Manchester (1980), an MA from London (1989), and a PhD from the University of London (1984). His academic career at UCL's Faculty of Laws began in 2001, focusing on legal history, political philosophy, and the intellectual legacy of Jeremy Bentham.

Dr. Schofield's research emphasizes Bentham's contributions to utilitarianism, legal reform, and democratic theory. Key areas include Bentham's views on secularism, colonial governance, and the intersection of law with ethics and politics. He serves as Secretary of the International Society for Utilitarian Studies, organizing global conferences to advance scholarly discourse in this field.

His scholarship spans Bentham's writings on justice, democracy, and penal systems, with notable works exploring Bentham's influence on modern legal frameworks and his critiques of natural rights. Schofield's recent publications analyze Bentham's perspectives on controversial topics like adult-child relationships, infanticide, and colonial administration in Australia.

Dr. Schofield actively engages in digital humanities, spearheading projects like tranScriptorium to digitize handwritten historical documents. His work bridges traditional archival methods with innovative technologies to enhance accessibility of primary sources.