Dr Andrew Huddleston
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Overview
Overview
Administrative responsibilities
- Chair, BA Examination Board
- Steering Committee, Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image
- Steering Committee, Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities
Professional activities
Book Reviews Editor and Editorial Committee Member, European Journal of Philosophy
Editorial Board, British Journal for the History of Philosophy
Area Editor, Ergo
Trustee, British Society of Aesthetics
Treasurer and Executive Committee Member, Royal Musical Association Music & Philosophy Study Group
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Research
Research
Research interests
- 19th Century European Philosophy
- 20th Century European Philosophy
- Aesthetics
- Ethics
- Nietzsche
Research overview
My main research interests are in the history of post-Kantian philosophy (esp. Nietzsche; also German Idealism, Early German Romanticism, and the Frankfurt School) as well as in aesthetics, social philosophy, and ethics.
My book Nietzsche on the Decadence and Flourishing of Culture (Oxford University Press, 2019) focused on Nietzsche's social philosophy. The standard story about Nietzsche’s philosophical development is that after first reposing his hopes in a broader culture, he, in his later work, came to occupy himself instead with the fate of a few great individuals only. I questioned this individualist reading that has become prevalent, and I developed an alternative reading of Nietzsche as a more social thinker, who sees collective cultural excellence as no less important. I used Nietzsche’s perfectionistic ideal of a flourishing culture, and his diagnostics of cultural malaise, as a point of departure for reconsidering many of the central themes in his ethics and social philosophy, as well as for understanding the interconnections with the form of cultural criticism that was part and parcel of his distinctive philosophical enterprise.
In parallel, I have, and have had, a number of stand-alone pieces (published or forthcoming in journals and in edited volumes) on other aspects of Nietzsche's work, and have papers in progress on other figures in the post-Kantian tradition, as well as in aesthetics. I presently am working on papers on topics such as: the moral psychology of ressentiment; narratives of decadence in the post-Kantian period; the influence of German idealism on Schopenhauer; Nietzsche's aesthetics; and Proust's treatment of death.
My next book project, Art's Highest Calling: The Religion of Art in a Secular Age, combines my interests in post-Kantian philosophy and aesthetics. I undertake an investigation of an important theme in European aesthetics, from the late 18th century to the 20th century: namely, the idea that art might be a kind of religious substitute. During this heady time of aesthetic theorizing, increasingly ambitious claims get made for art’s metaphysical and spiritual importance, especially in the vacuum the "death of God" leaves behind. Art seeks to take on tasks such as: putting us in touch with ultimate metaphysics; giving us a sense of the sacred; granting salvation in some existentially-significant way; orienting us in a ethical landscape; affording a framework of meaning to human life by situating it in a broader narrative or by encouraging devotion to the values thought to be preeminent; reinforcing the ties of community and rootedness; and offering consolation in the face of suffering, death, and despair. In one form or another, many key thinkers in this strand of thought have the idea that the best art is, if not a full replacement for religion, then in the same fundamental business. My study has an historical and a conceptual dimension: It explores the ways in which art has been presented (implicitly or explicitly) as a religious substitute, and it sheds light on what this was supposed to amount to. -
Supervision and teaching
Supervision and teaching
Supervision
I'm currently supervising 2 PhD students working on Hegel and 2 PhD students working on Nietzsche.
I'm happy to supervise on topics in Post-Kantian European Philosophy (esp. Nietzsche, also Hegel and Adorno), and topics in Aesthetics and Ethics.
Feel free to email me if you are interested in PhD study.
Current doctoral researchers
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CHRIS BOWLING
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ERIC STOREY
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SARAH KIERNAN
Teaching
I teach the following courses on a rotating basis:
Kant and German Idealism
Hegel
Nietzsche
Adorno & Foucault
I also often teach Introduction to Philosophy, in particular the epistemology component.
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Publications
Publications
Article
- Huddleston, Andrew (2021) Ressentiment. Ethics 131 (4), ISSN 0014-1704. (In Press)
- Huddleston, Andrew (2020) Nietzsche's aesthetics. Philosophy Compass ISSN 1747-9991.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2019) Nietzsche on Nihilism: a unifying thread. Philosophers Imprint 19 (11), pp. 1-19. ISSN 1533-628X.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2016) Nietzsche on the health of the soul. Inquiry 60 (1-2), pp. 135-164. ISSN 0020-174X.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2016) Normativity and the will to power: challenges for a Nietzsche constitutivism. Journal of Nietzsche Studies 47 (3), pp. 435-456. ISSN 0968-8005.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2015) What is enshrined in morality? Understanding the grounds for Nietzsche’s Critique. Inquiry 58 (3), pp. 281-307. ISSN 0020-174X.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2014) "Consecration to Culture": Nietzsche on slavery and human dignity. Journal of the History of Philosophy 52 (1), pp. 135-160. ISSN 0022-5053.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2014) Consecration to culture: Nietzsche on slavery and human dignity. Journal of the History of Philosophy 52 (1), pp. 135-160. ISSN 0022-5053.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2014) Hegel on comedy: theodicy, social criticism and the 'supreme task' of art. British Journal of Aesthetics 54 (2), pp. 227. ISSN 1468-2842.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2014) Hegel on comedy: theodicy, social criticism, and the ‘supreme task’ of Art. British Journal of Aesthetics 54 (2), pp. 227-240. ISSN 0007-0904.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2014) Nietzsche's meta-axiology: against the skeptical readings. British Journal for the History of Philosophy 22 (2), pp. 322-342. ISSN 0960-8788.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2014) Nietzsche’s meta-axiology: against the skeptical readings. British Journal for the History of Philosophy 22 (2), pp. 322-343. ISSN 0960-8788.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2013) Book review: "Empathy: Philosophical and Psychological Perspectives", by Amy Coplan and Peter Goldie (Oxford University Press, 2011). Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 71 (3), pp. 294-296. ISSN 1540-6245.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2013) Book review: "Scruton’s Aesthetics", by Andy Hamilton and Nick Zangwill (Palgrave & Macmillan, 2012). British Journal of Aesthetics 54 (1), pp. 104-107. ISSN 0007-0904.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2012) In defense of artistic values. Philosophical Quarterly 62 (249), pp. 705-714. ISSN 1467-9213.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2012) Naughty beliefs. Philosophical Studies 160 (2), pp. 209-222. ISSN 0031-8116.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2012) The conversation argument for actual intentionalism. British Journal of Aesthetics 52 (3), pp. 241-256. ISSN 0007-0904.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2011) Book review: "The Development of Ethics: A Historical and Critical Study" by Terence Irwin (Oxford University Press, 2009). The Philosophical Forum 42 (3), pp. 269-335. ISSN 1467-9191.
Book
- Huddleston, Andrew (2019) Nietzsche on the decadence and flourishing of culture. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198823674.
Book Section
- Huddleston, Andrew (2017) Nietzsche and the hope of normative convergence. In: Singer, P. (ed.) Does Anything Really Matter? Parfit on Objectivity. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199653836.
- Huddleston, Andrew (2015) Erlösung dem Erlöser. In: Georg-Lauer, J. and Reschke, R. (eds.) Nietzsche und Wagner: Perspektiven ihrer Auseinandersetzung. Berlin, Germany: de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110378757.
Conference Item
- Huddleston, Andrew (2014) Beyond judgment: expanding aesthetic normativity. Aesthetic Normativity, 2014, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Huddleston, Andrew (2014) Finding content in absolute music. European Society of Aesthetics, 2014, Amsterdam
- Huddleston, Andrew (2014) Nietzsche on the decadence of individuals and cultures. Interdisciplinary Conference on Decadence, 2014, Trinity Hall, Cambridge, UK
- Huddleston, Andrew (2014) Normativity and the will to power: challenges for a Nietzschean constitutivism. Nietzsche, Value and Self-Constitution Conference, 2014, Oxford, UK, May 2014
- Huddleston, Andrew (2013) Finding content in absolute music. British Society of Aesthetics, 2013, Cambridge
- Huddleston, Andrew (2013) Finding content in absolute music. Gesture, 2013, Nordic Society of Aesthetics, University of Oslo
- Huddleston, Andrew (2013) Kunstreligion redeemed: from religion to art in Wagner's Parsifal. Internationaler Nietzsche Kongress, 2013, Naumburg, Germany
- Huddleston, Andrew (2013) Nietzsche on decadence and its remedies. Nietzsche and Kantian Politics, 2013, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy
- Huddleston, Andrew (2013) Nietzsche on decadence and its remedies. Berliner Nietzsche Kolloquium, 2013, Technische Universität Berlin
- Huddleston, Andrew (2013) Truth and the ambitions of great art. International Congress of Aesthetics, 2013, Krakow, Poland
- Huddleston, Andrew and Lord, E. (2013) Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose: Friday night lights and the value of inspiration. American Society of Aesthetics, Annual Meeting, 2013, San Diego, USA
- Huddleston, Andrew (2012) Art as culture and culture as art: tracing a theme from the birth of tragedy to Nietzsche's later Work. European Society for Aesthetics Annual Meeting, 2012, Braga, Portugal
- Huddleston, Andrew (2012) Nietzsche and the contingency of greatness. Chance, Luck, Haphazardness: Evian International Philosophy Colloquium, 2012, Evian, France
- Huddleston, Andrew (2012) Nietzsche on the standing of values. Post & Kantian European Philosophy Seminar, 2012, Oxford, UK
- Huddleston, Andrew (2011) Artistic value. European Society for Aesthetics Annual Meeting, 2011, Grenoble, France
- Huddleston, Andrew (2011) In defense of artistic value as achievement value. British Society of Aesthetics, 2011, Edinburgh
- Huddleston, Andrew (2011) Naughty beliefs. 8th Annual University of Miami Graduate Conference in Epistemology, 2011, Miami, USA
- Huddleston, Andrew (2011) Nietzsche on the standing of values. Humboldt-Princeton Graduate Workshop in Philosophy, 2011, Berlin, Germany
- Huddleston, Andrew (2011) The grounds for Nietzsche's critique of morality. The Grounds for Nietzsche's Critique of Morality, 2011, University of New Hampshire
- Huddleston, Andrew (2010) Das ganze lebt uberhaupt nicht mehr: Nietzsche on the decadence of individuals and cultures. Joint Conference of the European Society for Aesthetics and the Associazione Italiana degli Studiosidi Estetica, 2010, University of Udine, Italy
- Huddleston, Andrew (2010) Nietzsche's cultural perfectionism. 14th Annual Oxford Philosophy Graduate Conference, 2010, Oxford, UK
- Huddleston, Andrew (2010) Nietzsche's holistic perfectionism. Nietzsche's Postmoralism, 2010, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Huddleston, Andrew (2010) The location of artistic value: against aesthetic consumerism. 16th Annual Evian Philosophy Colloquium, 2010, Evian, France
- Huddleston, Andrew (2010) The location of artistic value: against aesthetic consumerism. American Society for Aesthetics Annual Meeting, 2010, Victoria, British Columbia
- Huddleston, Andrew (2009) Intention and conversation. 8th Annual Graduate Conference, 2009, Brown University
- Huddleston, Andrew (2009) Intention and conversation. British Society of Aesthetics Annual Meeting, 2009, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
- Huddleston, Andrew (2008) Literature and philosophical conversation. Inaugural Conference of the Center for Philosophy and Literature, 2008, University of Sussex, UK
- Huddleston, Andrew (2008) Nietzsche on the will to truth. Princeton Philosophical Society, 2008,
- Huddleston, Andrew (2008) The consolations of art. 14th Annual Graduate Philosophy Conference, 2008, University of Toronto
External Repositories