Stephen Watson

PhD thesis: TBC

In an increasingly universal and entangled world, concerns about complicity underpin many of the choices we make every day. Complicity connects what we do with what we want to avoid: if we are against child labour, environmental degradation and the suffering of animals, we should buy ethically-sourced clothing, recycle waste and avoid eating meat. This may be why “our age is characterized by an increased sense of moral responsibility” [Kaveny, 2003].

The notion of complicity also underlies key legal principles such as knowing receipt and assistance in trust law and accessories in criminal law. Complicity is also fundamental to some claims for religious exemptions to anti-discrimination legislation. Cases involving these claims are coming before courts in the UK (and other countries) with increasing frequency. An examination of caselaw reveals inconsistencies in the legal understanding of complicity. My research endeavours to develop a coherent framework for considering and evaluating these claims.

Who or what inspired you to pursue your research interests?

A formative encounter with legal philosophy at the University of Melbourne not only convinced me that I had made the correct decision in shifting from a career in music to studying law but it also ignited my curiosity to think about the nature and effect of law in the broadest sense, including its effect on inequality, social structures and civil liberties. Furthermore, I realised that legal philosophy was not only intellectually stimulating but was foundational to understanding public life. This interest further developed during LLM studies at Cambridge, especially through Professor Kramer’s class Topics in Legal and Political Philosophy.