Rae Langton

Professor Rae Langton is a prominent academic in the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Philosophy, affiliated with Newnham College. Her research focuses on ethics, feminist philosophy, legal and political philosophy, and speech act theory. She is particularly known for analyzing the authority of hate speech and pornography through a philosophical lens, drawing on J.L. Austin's speech act theory to explore how language can subjugate or silence marginalized groups.

Her key affiliations include the Cambridge Forum for Legal and Political Philosophy (part of the Faculty of Law) and the Faculty of Philosophy. Langton's work bridges analytical philosophy with social justice issues, addressing topics like epistemic injustice, moral psychology, and the ethical dimensions of animal experimentation. She has contributed to debates on free speech countermeasures ('blocking as counter-speech') and the intersection of Kantian ethics with contemporary moral dilemmas.

Langton's publications span over three decades, with significant contributions to feminist jurisprudence, hate speech theory, and the philosophy of language. Her research emphasizes practical applications of philosophical concepts to real-world ethical challenges, such as reconciling animal rights with scientific research constraints.