Matt Matravers
LightNews LightNews
mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers
@mattmatravers.bsky.social
1.2K followers 2K following 74 posts

Legal/political philosopher: punishment, criminal law theory, responsibility. Professor of Law & Director of the Morrell Centre, University of York.

Videos
Political science 41%
Neuroscience 19%
Posts Replies Media Videos

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Sep 19
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Rather wonderfully, the "pair had clashed over the scheduling of a summit to discuss 'out of control' seagulls."
Minister Jamie Hepburn resigns after assault claim
Conservative MSP Douglas Ross said the parliament minister grabbed him as he left the Holyrood chamber on Wednesday.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Matt Matravers

morrellcentre.bsky.social
Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy @morrellcentre.bsky.social · Sep 12
Who wants to ask a question? That's a wrap on the 18th UK Annual Legal and Political Philosophy Workshop hosted this year by the Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy. @uoy-yorklawschool.bsky.social
Philosophers raising their hands to get the Chair's attention at an academic workshop.

Reposted by Matt Matravers

dinesson.bsky.social
Dr Kajsa Dinesson @dinesson.bsky.social · Sep 9
Yesterday I had the privilege of having some brilliant colleagues join me for a manuscript workshop on the draft chapters for my forthcoming book: Criminalizing Terrorism. I am very grateful to the Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy for funding this fantastic full day workshop!
Notebook with title 'Criminalizing Terror' and a hot drink

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Sep 1
Susan Mendus (a former colleague of mine) has a lovely piece on this, "The Importance of Love in Rawls's Theory of Justice", BJPolS 1999. (It makes an interesting companion to Brian Barry's 1995 Ethics piece, "John Rawls and the Search for Stability".)

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Aug 19
Indeed. Thank you. I have it on order now.

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Aug 18
Thanks so much (and what a title!).

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Aug 18
Would you be willing to identify the source?

Reposted by Marlene Wind, Matt Matravers

profjacob.bsky.social
Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · Feb 28
🚨🚨 Apologies but what a bloody fucking horrific shitshow of a press briefing! I cannot with words express how much disgust and contempt I feel for the traitorous evil scumbags Donald Trump & JD Vance. And my respect & regard for Zelenskyy has never been higher- a true leader of the Western World.👇👇
newseye.bsky.social News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · Feb 28
BREAKING: There has just been a huge argument between Zelenskyy, Trump & Vance in the Oval Office.

Trump calls Zelenskyy disrespectful and says he “is no position to dictate” to the US.

Trump raises his voice to Zelenskyy. He can’t stand someone standing up to him.

This is unbelievable.

Reposted by Ben Bradford, Matt Matravers

adamcrawford.bsky.social
Adam Crawford @adamcrawford.bsky.social · Jul 25
Delighted to share first 2 articles from @vp-centre.bsky.social Minimum Policing Standard research @benbradford.bsky.social @drcaweirich.bsky.social & Dr Rowlands Open access:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
More:
vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/minimum-poli...
www.tandfonline.com

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Jun 21
Yes to all of those things. Whilst they’re careful to say these are not “proposals”, it’s hard to believe this is not the direction of travel. As you say, it’s depressing and, I’d add, frightening.

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Jun 21
Have you seen this: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Research England official: universities could do ‘less’ R&D - Research Professional News
Arma 2025: Director of research asks whether system should provide “disincentives for lower-quality research”
www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Reposted by Adam Crawford, Matt Matravers

vp-centre.bsky.social
Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre @vp-centre.bsky.social · Jun 20
🚨 Job opportunity 🚨

@uoysbs.bsky.social are looking for a part-time Research Associate to work on a vulnerability-based policing project around sex worker safety and justice.

Salary: £37,174 pro-rata

Based at: @york.ac.uk campus

Apply by 03/07/2025

jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/rese...
Jobs - The University of York
jobs.york.ac.uk

Reposted by Matt Matravers

samagreene.bsky.social
Sam Greene @samagreene.bsky.social · Jun 4
At a loose end this Sunday afternoon? Somewhere in shouting distance of York? Join me at the @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social!

yorkfestivalofideas.com/2025/calenda...
A New World Order?
With Trump’s second presidency, are we returning to an era of Great Powers and ‘might means right’? What are the implications for the so-called ‘global rules-based order’? Join in the discussion with ...
yorkfestivalofideas.com

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · May 29
Apparently, it is also World Digestive Health Day. That's some combination (and if the marketers of Digestives are not on this, they're missing an opportunity).

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · May 1
07.34

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Apr 22
PLEASE SHARE
York Law School is advertising a funded (home fee rate + stipend) PGR studentship. Open to all areas of law. I am happy to answer questions.
The advert is here: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMS275/y... @uoy-yorklawschool.bsky.social
York Law School PhD Department Studentship 2025 - 26 at University of York
Discover a York Law School PhD Department Studentship 2025 - 26 on jobs.ac.uk. Apply now and explore other PhD opportunities.
www.jobs.ac.uk

Reposted by Matt Matravers

rorycj.bsky.social
Rory Cellan-Jones @rorycj.bsky.social · Apr 20
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/71... What do you mean, you haven't signed the Parky Charter petition calling for better Parkinson's care?? We Parkies have an excuse - one of the symptoms of PD is apathy. But as for the rest of you, jump to it! (pretty please..)
Petition: Increase funding for people with Parkinson’s and implement the "Parky Charter"
We want the government to take the decisive five steps set out in the Movers and Shakers' "Parky Charter" and to fulfil the Health Secretary’s promises.
petition.parliament.uk

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Apr 15
Obviously, I don’t resent @petroc.bsky.social getting to have a lie-in, but mornings just aren’t the same without him.

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Mar 23
My fabulous colleague ‪@cobrien.bsky.social‬ has a new piece out.
cobrien.bsky.social Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · Mar 21
How many UK Supreme Court judges do you think ever acted as lawyers for a claimant in a social security case? ZERO. *Extremely nervous* to announce this rather bolshy ('somewhat contentious' and 'robust in tone') piece in the JSSL. I argue there is a 'professional diversity deficit' in UKSC, AND...
Screenshot of title and abstract of journal article. Title is 'The professional diversity deficit: the UK Supreme Court’s social security law blind spot'. Abstract is: 'It is no secret that the UK Supreme Court lacks demographic diversity. But there is very little commentary on a different diversity gap—that of professional experience. UK Supreme Court judges are typically drawn from lucrative areas of legal practice, creating a pronounced professional practice gap in the realm of social security law. None of the sitting Supreme Court judges have ever acted in a reported security case for social security claimants against the State. This creates a problem of perspective; would we really expect a panel of Goliath advocates to give David a fair hearing? This article highlights the hitherto under-explored evidence of a professional deficit on the Court, and argues that this cannot help but have an influence upon judicial perspectives. One such possible influence is the “alegalisation” of social security law—the treatment of it as not-law but as a matter of pure politics. Here, the article analyses how the line is drawn in key cases, in which it seems the Court feels responsible for defending some “pure law” human rights, while defending the courtroom from other human rights claims—those relating to social security. But poverty is a human rights issue, and human rights are (still) a matter of law. We need to bring social security expertise and claimant perspectives to the bench if we are to reassert the legal nature of social security rights.'

Reposted by Matt Matravers, Anne Deighton

cobrien.bsky.social
Charlotte O'Brien @cobrien.bsky.social · Mar 21
How many UK Supreme Court judges do you think ever acted as lawyers for a claimant in a social security case? ZERO. *Extremely nervous* to announce this rather bolshy ('somewhat contentious' and 'robust in tone') piece in the JSSL. I argue there is a 'professional diversity deficit' in UKSC, AND...
Screenshot of title and abstract of journal article. Title is 'The professional diversity deficit: the UK Supreme Court’s social security law blind spot'. Abstract is: 'It is no secret that the UK Supreme Court lacks demographic diversity. But there is very little commentary on a different diversity gap—that of professional experience. UK Supreme Court judges are typically drawn from lucrative areas of legal practice, creating a pronounced professional practice gap in the realm of social security law. None of the sitting Supreme Court judges have ever acted in a reported security case for social security claimants against the State. This creates a problem of perspective; would we really expect a panel of Goliath advocates to give David a fair hearing? This article highlights the hitherto under-explored evidence of a professional deficit on the Court, and argues that this cannot help but have an influence upon judicial perspectives. One such possible influence is the “alegalisation” of social security law—the treatment of it as not-law but as a matter of pure politics. Here, the article analyses how the line is drawn in key cases, in which it seems the Court feels responsible for defending some “pure law” human rights, while defending the courtroom from other human rights claims—those relating to social security. But poverty is a human rights issue, and human rights are (still) a matter of law. We need to bring social security expertise and claimant perspectives to the bench if we are to reassert the legal nature of social security rights.'

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Mar 20
It’s the preface to Theories of Justice (about the EUI).

Reposted by Matt Matravers

collectivewlp.bsky.social
The Collective: Women in Legal Philosophy @collectivewlp.bsky.social · Feb 19
We're here!

Reposted by Matt Matravers

Digressionsimpressions @nescio13.bsky.social · Feb 16
open.substack.com/pub/hinterne...
Justin returns to form with a banger
My Kind of Conservatism
“L’orgueil de la victoire m’est insupportable.” —Chateaubriand, Mémoires d’outre-tombe (1848-50)
open.substack.com

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Feb 11
It’s all upper case, so just read it “orange [the colour] juice”!

Reposted by Christopher D. Manning, Jason M. Fletcher, Delphine K. Farmer , and 17 more

carlbergstrom.com
Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · Feb 8
1. Today the NIH director issued a new directive slashing overhead rates to 15%.

I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters.

grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-25-068: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates NOT-OD-25-068. OD
grants.nih.gov

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Feb 7
Oh, you Librarians with your sensible rules and concerns for data protection! Have a lovely weekend.

mattmatravers.bsky.social
Matt Matravers @mattmatravers.bsky.social · Feb 7
I feel slighted! I think I've been here longer than most (in every sense).

Reposted by Matt Matravers

bjpols.bsky.social
British Journal of Political Science @bjpols.bsky.social · Feb 3
Awarded annually in partnership with @britishacademy.bsky.social for excellence in political science, the 2025 Brian Barry Prize in Political Science is now open.

Find out how to submit your entry - cup.org/4jENjb1

Deadline - 28th of February 2025, 5pm (GMT)
Logo of the British Journal of Political Science featuring the white text "Brian Barry Prize" displayed below the journal's name on a green background.

Reposted by Ben Bradford, Patrick Sturgis, Nicola Carr , and 1 more

stephenfarrall.bsky.social
Stephen Farrall @stephenfarrall.bsky.social · Jan 31
Re-posting as closing date (20th Feb) is looming:

Please repost @patricksturg.bsky.social @benbradford.bsky.social @clscohorts.bsky.social @closer-uk.bsky.social @uniofnottingham.bsky.social @sociologicalreview.bsky.social @sociowarwick.bsky.social

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLN135/p...
PhD Studentship: Crime, Punishment, and Politics Across Generations – A Multi-Cohort Study in the UK ESRC DTP Strategic Joint Studentship at Midlands Graduate School Doctoral Training Partnership
Explore a PhD Studentship: Crime, Punishment, and Politics Across Generations – A Multi-Cohort Study in the UK ESRC DTP Strategic Joint Studentship on jobs.ac.uk. Discover more PhD opportunities and a...
www.jobs.ac.uk

Reposted by Matt Matravers

deevybee.bsky.social
Dorothy Bishop @deevybee.bsky.social · Jan 25
Nothing to see here. Just Elon Musk FRS retweeting an incendiary statement about @royalsociety.org's Foreign Member Anthony Fauci at the point when Trump removed Fauci's protection.
Need for preemptive pardon amplified when Musk previously tweeted "prosecute Fauci".
Tweet by @DefiyantlyFree: Nothing says "Trust the Science" quite like a blanket preemptive pardon