aap > media > find an expert > Caroline West
Caroline West
Areas of public interest: (examples of areas of public interest this person is qualified to comment on)
Philosophy of happiness and wellbeing; Free Speech and Censorship; Personal Identity; Practical Ethics (bio-ethics; corporate ethical responsibility; animal rights; environmental ethics)
Contact Details:
Ph: (+61 2) 9036 9349; mobile 0412 702 433
email: caroline.west AT usyd.edu.au
Address: Rm S415, Main Quad
University of Sydney
Sydney, NSW, 2006
Title & Institutional Affiliations:
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Sydney
Selected Media appearances and public comments:
"Philosophy 101", The Philosopher's Zone, ABC Radio National, 30 December 2006
"Definition of the Good Life", Reform Issue 88, 'Life, Law and Leisure' Winter 2006
"Happiness and why do Greek Philosophy?", The Philosopher's Zone, ABC Radio National, 8 April 2006
"Happiness: What is it; and why should we want it?", 1st International Conference on happiness and its Causes, 1-2 April 2006 3 December 2006
The Politics of Hope, Australian Review of Public Affairs, 20 June 2005
"Are Some Humans More Equal Than Others?", Australian Review of Public Affairs, 10 May 2004
Caroline was co-presenter of "Ghost in the Machine", Drive Eastside, a weekly philosophy radio program about bodies and minds, machines and memory 2001-4
Caroline has appeared on SBS 'Insight' to talk about Happiness and Status Anxiety. She has talked with Adam Spencer on the morning show 702 ABC Sydney (9/8/2006) about the impact of the trend to longer working hours on happiness and quality of life; and about the virtue of leisure on Drive programs including: ABC Northern Tasmania, ABC Melbourne, ABC South Australia.
General Areas of Academic Expertise:
Ethics; Philosophy and Psychology of wellbeing; Political Philosophy; Feminist Philosophy; Metaphysics (especially personal identity)
Selected Publications:
"What is Free Speech?" (with David Braddon-Mitchell), The Journal of Political Philosophy, 12(4), 2004: 437-460.
"The Free Speech Argument Against Pornography",Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 33(3), September, 2003, 391-422.
"Pornography and Censorship", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Caroline is currently working on a book about Happiness, forthcoming with Routledge Press

Further information about Caroline and her research, including a list of publications
For information about the AAP's list of philosophical experts or enquiries about philosophers for media comment please contact the AAP's Media Officer: Caroline West, wk) 02 9036 9349 or mob) 0412 702 433 or Executive Officer: Eliza Goddard, wk) 03 62946319 or mob) 0409 169837.