Philosophy Postgraduates
Dale Tweedie
dale.tweedie@scmp.mq.edu.au
(02) 9850 6772
Office: W6A 729
Degree: PhD
Thesis topic: Theories of Work and Australian Workplace Reform
Supervisor: Associate Professor Nicholas Smith
Associate Supervisor: Dr Jean-Philippe Deranty
Research Interests: The philosophy of economics, and political & social philosophy.
My primary research question concerns the intersection of these fields: how, and to what extent, should economic theory be used to address contemporary social policy issues?
My PhD thesis evaluates workplace reform in Australia in relation to various alternative theories of what work is and the needs work serves. I begin by analysing modern (neo-classical) economic models of work: what vision of work, and the worker, is implied here? I then consider the adequacy of this vision for assessing workplace reform in Australia, in comparison to alternatives found in the classical economics of Adam Smith, Richard Sennett’s sociology of the modern workplace, and recognition theory in philosophy.
My MA thesis (2003) analyses two broader questions raised by the significant influence of economic arguments in contemporary social policy debates. These are: what kind of knowledge does economics bring to social policy, and how is this knowledge justified? I consider prominent answers economists have given to these questions, especially those from Lionel Robbins and Milton Friedman. I then evaluate these responses in light of modern philosophy of social science, drawing especially on the work of Charles Taylor.
I also graduated with a BA (Hons) from Macquarie University in 2002, with majors in philosophy and economics.
Peer-refereed Publications
- "Economics in Social Policy: A Philosophical Analysis" - Mobile Boundaries Rigid Worlds Conference Proceedings, Centre for Research on Social Inclusion Annual Conference, 2004
Conference Papers
- “Why Work? Theories of Work and Workplace Reform”, Australian Postgraduate Philosophy Conference, 2008
Recent Teaching
- Lecturer ‘Critical Thinking’ Macquarie University Summer School 2006 & 2007
- Unit Co-ordinator/Lecturer ‘Personal Values and the Market’ Australian Catholic University, 2007
- Lecturer ‘Critical Thinking’ Sydney Institute of Business and Technology, 2005-2008
- Guest Lecturer/Tutor ‘Business Ethics,’ Macquarie University 2005-2006