Christopher Bennett

BA Stirling, MA, PhD Sheffield

School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities

Professor of Philosophy

Director of One University

Chris Bennett stood outside HRI building
Profile picture of Chris Bennett stood outside HRI building
c.bennett@sheffield.ac.uk
9 Mappin Street

Full contact details

Christopher Bennett
School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities
9 Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 4DT
Profile

Chris has taught in the Department since 2001, having previously done his PhD at Sheffield. His PhD looked at the question of whether retributive emotions have a place in the good human life. This and related questions continue to be a central interest. Chris was Chief Editor of the Journal of Applied Philosophy from 2013-2018. He is currently Treasurer of the Society of Applied Philosophy.

Research interests
  • Theories of punishment and alternatives to punishment
  • Criminal law and criminal justice
  • Emotions and expressive action
  • Normative powers
  • Moral responsibility and moral responsibility
  • Blame, forgiveness and apology
  • Political authority and legitimacy
  • Democratic political theory
  • Philosophy of law
  • Friendship and marriage
  • History of philosophy, especially Kant and post-Kantianism
Publications

Books

  • Radzik L, Bennett C, Pettigrove G & Sher G (2020) . Cambridge University Press.
  • Bennett C (2010) . Taylor & Francis.
  • Bennett C (2008) The apology ritual: A Philosophical Theory of Punishment. Cambridge Univ Pr.
  • Bennett C () . Routledge.

Journal articles

  • Bennett C (2023) . Criminal Law and Philosophy, 17(1), 235-242.
  • Bennett C (2022) . Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy, 23(1), 115-135.
  • Bennett C (2022) . International Journal of Philosophical Studies, 30(3), 298-319.
  • Bennett C (2022) . Angelaki, 27(5), 132-147.
  • Bennett C (2021) . Metaphilosophy, 52(5), 513-529.
  • Bennett C (2021) . The Monist, 104(2), 182-194.
  • Bennett C (2021) . Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 24(1), 347-356.
  • Bennett C (2021) . Philosophy, 96(2), 277-300.
  • Tomczak P & Bennett C (2020) . Punishment & Society, 22(5), 637-657.
  • Bennett C (2019) . Criminal Law and Philosophy, 13(4), 573-584.
  • Bennett C (2019) . Legal Theory, 25(3), 153-177.
  • Bennett C, Faulkner P & Stern R (2019) . Graduate Faculty Philosophy Journal, 40(1), 147-179.
  • Bennett CD (2018) . Philosophy and Public Affairs, 46(2), 207-233.
  • Bennett CD (2017) . Jurisprudence, 8(2), 360-369.
  • Bennett CD (2015) . Jurisprudence, 6(2), 364-370.
  • Bennett C (2014) . Good Society, 23(1), 41-54.
  • Bennett C (2013) . Restorative Justice, 1(2), 298-301.
  • Bennett C (2013) . European Journal of Philosophy, 21(S4).
  • Bennett CD (2012) Replies to my Commentators. Teorema, 31(2).
  • Bennett CD (2012) Precis of The Apology Ritual. Teorema, 31(2).
  • Bennett C (2012) Review of The Apology Ritual. TEOREMA, 31(2), 84-94.
  • Bennett C (2012) . Criminal Law and Philosophy, 6(1), 103-109.
  • Bennett C (2011) . Criminal Justice Ethics, 30(2), 205-212.
  • Bennett C (2011) . Journal of Moral Philosophy, 8(1), 165-167.
  • Bennett CD (2011) Expressive Punishment and State Authority. Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, 8(2), 285-318.
  • Bennett C (2010) . Criminal Law and Philosophy, 4(1), 105-107.
  • Bennett C (2009) . Mind, 118(469), 215-220.
  • Bennett C (2008) . Philosophical Books, 49(4), 390-392.
  • Bennett C (2006) . Res Publica, 12(2), 191-201.
  • Bennett CD (2006) Taking the Sincerity Out Of Saying Sorry: Restorative Justice As Ritual. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 23.
  • Bennett CD (2006) State Denunciation of Crime. Journal of Moral Philosophy, 3.
  • Bennett C, Bennett M & Bennett S (2005) . Philosophy of Management, 5(3), 31-41.
  • Bennett C (2005) . Criminal Justice Matters, 60(1), 20-21.
  • Bennett C (2004) . Philosophical Books, 45(4), 324-334.
  • Bennett CD (2004) The Limits of Mercy. Ratio, 17(1).
  • Bennett C (2004) . Journal of Moral Philosophy, 1(1), 89-101.
  • Bennett CD (2003) Liberalism, Autonomy and Conjugal Love. Res Publica: a journal of legal and social philosophy, 9.
  • Bennett C (2003) . Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, 6(3), 50-69.
  • Bennett C (2003) . Contemporary Political Theory, 2(2), 255-257.
  • Bennett CD (2003) Personal and Redemptive Forgiveness. European Journal of Philosophy, 11(2).
  • Bennett C (2003) . Contemporary Political Theory, 2(1), 67-76.
  • Bennett CD (2002) The Varieties of Retributive Experience. The Philosophical Quarterly, 52.
  • Bennett C (2001) . Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, 4(3), 101-119.
  • Bennett C (1998) . Bulletin of the Hegel Society of Great Britain, 19(1-2), 85-96.
  • Bennett C (1997) . Bulletin of the Hegel Society of Great Britain, 18(2), 43-45.
  • Bennett C (1997) . Bulletin of the Hegel Society of Great Britain, 18(2), 60-64.
  • Bennett C () . Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, 1-8.
  • Bennett C () . Journal of the American Philosophical Association.
  • Bennett C () . Criminal Justice Ethics.
  • Bennett C () . Criminal Law and Philosophy.
  • Bennett CD () Considering Capital Punishment as a Human Interaction. Criminal Law and Philosophy.
  • Bennett CD () . Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 32(3), 563-581.

Book chapters

  • Bennett C (2024) , Crime Prevention by Exclusion (pp. 63-85). Routledge
  • Bennett C (2024) , Crime Prevention by Exclusion Ethical Considerations (pp. 63-85).
  • Bennett C (2023) In Fox C & Saunders J (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and Media Ethics (pp. 154-165). Routledge
  • Bennett C (2023) , The Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy and Psychology of Forgiveness (pp. 273-284). Routledge
  • Bennett C (2023) , Palgrave Handbooks in the Philosophy of Law (pp. 171-194). Springer International Publishing
  • Bennett C (2022) In Jeske D (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Friendship (pp. 179-189). Routledge
  • Bennett C (2022) , REMORSE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (pp. 137-155).
  • Bennett C (2021) In Tudor S, Weisman R, Proeve M & Rossmanith K (Ed.), Remorse and Criminal Justice: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives (pp. 137-155). Routledge
  • Bennett C (2021) In Hoskins Z & Robson J (Ed.), The Social Epistemology of Legal Trials (pp. 30-45). Routledge (Taylor & Francis)
  • Bennett C & Brownlee K (2020) , The Cambridge Companion to the Philosophy of Law (pp. 253-270). Cambridge University Press
  • Bennett C (2020) How to Do Things with Blame (and Social Punishment), ETHICS OF SOCIAL PUNISHMENT (pp. 75-98).
  • Bennett C (2019) , Retribution (pp. 317-335). Routledge
  • Bennett CD (2019) How should we argue for a censure theory of punishment? In du Bois-Pedain A & Bottoms AE (Ed.), Penal Censure : Engagements Within and Beyond Desert Theory Oxford: Hart Publishing (Bloomsbury).
  • Bennett CD (2018) Intrusive Intervention and Opacity Respect In Birks D & Douglas T (Ed.), Treatment for Crime: Philosophical Essays on Neurointerventions in Criminal Justice Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Bennett C (2018) Children, crime and punishment, Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy of Childhood and Children (pp. 395-405).
  • Bennett CD (2017) In Ryberg J, Roberts JV & De Keijser J (Ed.), Sentencing for Multiple Crimes (pp. 57-74). Oxford University Press
  • Bennett CD (2017) In Cohen A & Stern R (Ed.), Thinking about the Emotions: A Philosophical History (pp. 184-205). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Bennett CD (2016) In Abell C & Smith J (Ed.), Emotional Expression: Philosophical, Psychological and Legal Perspectives (pp. 73-94). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Bennett CD (2016) Why Greater Public Participation in Criminal Justice? In Dzur A, Loader I & Sparks R (Ed.), Democratic Theory and Mass Incarceration Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Bennett CD (2016) In Tonry M (Ed.), Oxford Handbook Online in Criminology and Criminal Justice Oxford University Press
  • Bennett CD (2015) Punishment as an Apology Ritual In Flanders C & Hoskins Z (Ed.), The New Philosophy of Criminal Law (pp. 213-230).
  • Bennett C (2014) In Roberts J & Ryberg J (Ed.), Popular Punishment: On the Normative Significance of Public Opinion (pp. 146-162). Oxford University Press, USA
  • Bennett C (2014) STATE DENUNCIATION OF CRIME, Studies in Moral Philosophy (pp. 209-230).
  • Bennett CD (2013) In Bruinsma G & Weisburg D (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice (pp. 4446-4456). New York: Springer.
  • (2013) , Handbook of Restorative Justice (pp. 269-286). Willan
  • Bennett CD (2012) The Expressive Function of Blame, Blame: Its Nature and Norms Oxford University Press
  • Bennett CD (2012) "Do Repeat and Multiple Offenders Pose a Problem for Retributive Sentencing Theory?" In Ryberg J & Tamburrini C (Ed.), Recidivist Punishments: the Philosopher's View Lanham MA: Lexington Books.
  • Bennett CD (2010) 'More to Apologise For': Can We Find A Justification for the Recidivist Premium in a Communicative Theory of Punishment? In Roberts JV & Hirsch AV (Ed.), Previous convictions at sentencing Hart Pub
  • Bennett C (2010) Blame, remorse, mercy, forgiveness, Routledge Companion to Ethics (pp. 573-583).
  • Bennett CD (2010) "Blame, Remorse, Forgiveness, Mercy" In Skorupski J (Ed.), The Routledge Companion to Ethics London: Routledge.
  • Bennett CD (2010) Punishment and Rehabilitation In Ryberg J & Corlett JA (Ed.), Punishment and Ethics: New Perspectives Palgrave Macmillan
  • Bennett C (2010) ‘More to Apologise For’: Can a Basis for the Recidivist Premium Be Found within a Communicative Theory of Punishment?1, Previous Convictions at Sentencing Theoretical and Applied Perspectives (pp. 73-89).
  • (2008) , The Apology Ritual (pp. 13-25). Cambridge University Press
  • (2008) , The Apology Ritual (pp. 101-122). Cambridge University Press
  • (2008) , The Apology Ritual (pp. 175-198). Cambridge University Press
  • (2008) , The Apology Ritual (pp. 26-44). Cambridge University Press
  • (2008) , The Apology Ritual (pp. 125-151). Cambridge University Press
  • (2008) , The Apology Ritual (pp. 47-73). Cambridge University Press
  • (2008) , The Apology Ritual (pp. 74-100). Cambridge University Press
  • (2008) , The Apology Ritual (pp. 152-174). Cambridge University Press
  • Bennett C (2008) THE APOLOGY RITUAL A Philosophical Theory of Punishment Introduction, APOLOGY RITUAL: A PHILOSOPHICAL THEORY OF PUNISHMENT (pp. 1-+).
  • Bennett C (2007) , Law and Philosophy (pp. 272-287). Oxford University PressOxford
  • Bennett C () , The Oxford Handbook of the Philosophy of Punishment (pp. 157-172). Oxford University Press

Other

  • Løgstrup KE, Bennett C & Stern R (2019) . Graduate Faculty Philosophy Journal, 40(1), 183-209.
Research group

I am currently supervising PhD students working on the following topics:

  • Foucault and obesity
  • Sexual ethics
  • Transitional Justice
  • Kantian approaches to bioethics
Teaching interests

I am fascinated by the way in which philosophical questions arise from everyday experience, so that reflection on controversies that arise in practical life leads us quickly to some kind of engagement with philosophical issues. Engagement with philosophical theorising can help deepen our understanding of these controversies, and in some cases can help us make progress in resolving them. This is the approach I take in teaching. In my modules I hope to develop students’ skills of appreciating philosophical issues, and using philosophical literature to deepen their understanding. I also hope to develop their skills in thinking critically about these issues, and improve their ability to argue philosophically. I aim to make my teaching inclusive and oriented to helping students to engage with philosophical issues for themselves. I currently teach Matters of Life and Death at Level One and Philosophy of Law at Level Three/Masters level. With Yonatan Shemmer, I co-designed the Department’s innovative Level One Writing Philosophy module, and I have often co-taught that module. I believe that this module serves as an excellent introduction to the skills involved in reading, understanding and writing philosophical arguments, and that it gives students a good grounding for the later years of their degree.

Teaching activities

PHI125 Matters of Life and Death – This Level One module looks at the ethics of various situations that involve causing death: from the eating of non-human animals, to abortion, to capital punishment, to killing in war. It serves as an introduction to philosophical thinking about morality, but without assuming any particular background in philosophical moral theory.

PHI135 Writing Philosophy – This module introduces students to some intriguing philosophical issues, and uses the discussion of those issues as the basis for activities that help students to develop important skills. These skills include: understanding and summarising another person’s argument; constructing an argumentative strategy; developing a reading list; learning from feedback; and understanding marking criteria. For this module, students submit an unusually high number of assessments (five) in order to benefit from intensive practice and development of their writing skills. Students peer-mark one of those assessments in order to develop their understanding of the marking criteria. And the final assessment consists in a version of a previous essay that is rewritten in the light of the marker’s feedback.

PHI364/6364 – This Level Three module looks at philosophical issues arising from law. The existence and dominance of the legal system is an important and distinctive feature of modern societies. Many important decisions in our society are ultimately made by lawyers, or through the legal system, and it is only through the legal system that we can do many of the things that we need to do in our lives. This module asks, amongst other things, whether the dominance of law in modern societies is a good thing. We begin by looking at issues in criminal law, including punishment and complicity. We then look at issues about the duty to obey the law, including rights and duties of disobedience. We also look at the nature of law and legal systems; the relationship between law and morality; and the place of law in a democracy.  

Postgraduate Supervision

My PhD supervision is and has been on topics such forgiveness; punishment and criminal law; sexual ethics; meaningfulness in life; exploitation in medical research; environmental ethics; normative powers such as consent; and Kant’s theory of freedom. I welcome inquiries from PhD students who are interested in working on such topics, as well topics broadly related to the research interests mentioned above.

Current PhD Students:

Wassim Abdelmasseh (first supervisor). Thesis topic: Forgiveness

Sebastian Pineda (first supervisor). Thesis topic: State punishment and state silence

Josh Hibbert (first supervisor). Thesis topic: Kant's theory of judgement

Elliott Woodhouse (second supervisor). Thesis topic: Geoengineering and respect for nature

Rae Fielding (second supervisor). Thesis topic:Consent and harm

James Dunstan (second supervisor). Thesis topic:Manipulation

Kayleigh Doherty (second supervisor). Thesis topic

Nadia Mehdi (second supervisor). Thesis topic