Tom Grimwood

I am a Professor of Social Philosophy and Head of the Graduate School at the University of Cumbria. My research explores the intersection between professional practices and philosophy, looking at specific sites where intellectual pursuit and its material conditions are placed in tension with one another: whether in applied service delivery (such as the concepts underlying health provision or social work practice), or in cultural discussions (such as irony, cliche, silence and ignorance). I work mainly in the hermeneutic tradition, drawing together philosophy with contemporary art, video games, film and public debate.

I also lead Health and Society Knowledge Exchange (HASKE), which is a contract research and evaluation centre that has a particular focus on cultural change in health and care provision, exploring new intervention pathways, allied health role change and training, and regional health determinants.

My main research interests are:

- Philosophical and political issues in social work, social care and health

- Cultural and Philosophical Hermeneutics

- Critical and Post-Critical Theory

- Rhetoric, Contemporary Applications of Rhetoric, particularly in Visual and Gaming Culture

- Social and Applied Ethics

- Philosophy of Research Methodologies, particularly Evaluation

- Gender and Feminist Philosophy