Adam Swift
Encyclopedia
Adam Swift is a British
political philosopher
and sociologist
who specialises in debates surrounding liberal
egalitarianism
. He has published books on communitarianism
, on the philosophical aspects of school choice
, and on social justice
, as well as an extremely successful introduction to contemporary political theory, which has been translated into several languages.
Swift studied PPE at Balliol College, Oxford
, where he was taught by Steven Lukes
. He then did an MPhil in Sociology at Nuffield College, and subsequently became a Fellow of Balliol College. He completed his DPhil while a Fellow, on the topic of 'A Sociologically Informed Political Theory'. He has since been Director of the Oxford Centre for the Study of Social Justice, and has held visiting positions at Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, the Australian National University
, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He is currently working on developing a liberal egalitarian theory of the family with Harry Brighouse
.
Swift writes for both academic and non-academic audiences, and is a frequent contributor to political debates about education.
of the television sitcom Keeping Up Appearances
, and he is the nephew of Clive's actor brother, David Swift, well-known for Drop the Dead Donkey
. His mother is novelist Margaret Drabble, and his brother is garden designer and journalist Joe Swift
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
political philosopher
Political philosophy
Political philosophy is the study of such topics as liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why they are needed, what, if anything, makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it...
and sociologist
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
who specialises in debates surrounding liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
egalitarianism
Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism is a trend of thought that favors equality of some sort among moral agents, whether persons or animals. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that equality contains the idea of equity of quality...
. He has published books on communitarianism
Communitarianism
Communitarianism is an ideology that emphasizes the connection between the individual and the community. That community may be the family unit, but it can also be understood in a far wider sense of personal interaction, of geographical location, or of shared history.-Terminology:Though the term...
, on the philosophical aspects of school choice
School choice
School choice is a term used to describe a wide array of programs aimed at giving families the opportunity to choose the school their children will attend. As a matter of form, school choice does not give preference to one form of schooling or another, rather manifests itself whenever a student...
, and on social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
, as well as an extremely successful introduction to contemporary political theory, which has been translated into several languages.
Swift studied PPE at Balliol College, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, where he was taught by Steven Lukes
Steven Lukes
Steven Michael Lukes is a political and social theorist. Currently he is a professor of politics and sociology at New York University...
. He then did an MPhil in Sociology at Nuffield College, and subsequently became a Fellow of Balliol College. He completed his DPhil while a Fellow, on the topic of 'A Sociologically Informed Political Theory'. He has since been Director of the Oxford Centre for the Study of Social Justice, and has held visiting positions at Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He is currently working on developing a liberal egalitarian theory of the family with Harry Brighouse
Harry Brighouse
Harry Brighouse is a British political philosopher at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research interests include the relationship between education and liberalism. His work on this topic has been widely cited . In addition to academic journals, his work has been published in the...
.
Swift writes for both academic and non-academic audiences, and is a frequent contributor to political debates about education.
Books
- Political Philosophy: A Beginner’s Guide for Students and Politicians [2001, 2nd edition 2006]
- How Not To Be A Hypocrite: School Choice for the Morally Perplexed Parent [2003]
- Against the Odds? Social Class and Social Justice in Industrial Societies (with Gordon Marshall and Stephen Roberts) [1997]
- Liberals and Communitarians (with Stephen MulhallStephen MulhallStephen Mulhall is a philosopher and Fellow of New College, Oxford. His main research areas are Ludwig Wittgenstein and post-Kantian philosophy.-Life:...
) [1992, 2nd edition 1996]
Personal life
Adam Swift's father is actor Clive SwiftClive Swift
Clive Walter Swift is an English character comedy actor and songwriter. He is best known for his role as character Richard Bucket in the British television series Keeping Up Appearances. He is less known for his role as character Roy in the British television series The Old Guys...
of the television sitcom Keeping Up Appearances
Keeping Up Appearances
Keeping Up Appearances is a British sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke for the BBC. Centred on the life of eccentric, social-climbing snob Hyacinth Bucket , the sitcom portrays a social hierarchy-ruled British society...
, and he is the nephew of Clive's actor brother, David Swift, well-known for Drop the Dead Donkey
Drop the Dead Donkey
- Major characters :* Gus Hedges — The unctuous Chief Executive of the company, and yes-man to Sir Roysten Merchant. A management stereotype, complete with clichés and clumsy metaphors, he swiftly transforms GlobeLink from a serious news network to a ratings-chasing tabloid channel...
. His mother is novelist Margaret Drabble, and his brother is garden designer and journalist Joe Swift
Joe Swift
Joe Swift is an English garden designer, journalist and television personality.-Television career:Swift is a regular presenter and designer on the BBC's Gardeners' World, co-presenter on the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show, Gardeners' World Live, Hampton Court, RHS Tatton Park...
.