Ethical, Political, Legal and Philosophical Studies Committee

The Ethical, Political Legal and Philosophical Studies Committee is a multi-disciplinary committee that was established in September 2014. Its purpose and aim is to promote co-operation across and within its scholarly disciplines, to advise, contribute and guide Academy policy in these areas and to engage the public on issues of topical interest, on an all-island basis.

Latest News and Events

The Centenary of the Anglo-Irish Treaty Debates

When 02 December 2021

Part of the government's programme of commemoration, this conference addresses the debate about the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

'The Nuremberg Trials at 75: histories, legacies, lessons'

When 17 June 2021

A keynote lecture by Philippe Sands followed by a multidisciplinary panel discussion and questions from the online audience.

Read the report or watch the event 'How should a liberal democracy react to conscientious objection claims?'

03 March 2021

Debate on conscientious objection from legal, philosophical, theological and religious perspectives, and finally a discussion on how legislators and governments in liberal democracies should react to claims of conscience.

Humanities and Social Sciences Committees Ethical, Political, Legal, and Philosophical Studies Committee

Discussion and Opinion Series

Read the Ethical, Political, Legal and Philosophical Studies Committee's reports for its discussion and opinion series.

In 2018 the committee is working on a series of 'micro-dialogues' - online conversations between two experts on key challenges for modern society.

Micro-dialogues »

During 2016 Mason Hayes & Curran sponsored the committee’s series of Constitutional Conversations

Constitutional Conversations »

This opinion series explores what ethics currently means to Irish researchers across a variety of disciplines and was led by the RIA Committee for Ethical, Political, Legal and Philosophical Studies and was a contribution to President Higgins’ Ethics Initiative in 2014/15.