Dr James MacAllister
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy of Education

- Moray House School of Education and Sport, IECS
- University of Edinburgh
Contact details
- Tel: +44 (0)131 651 6631
- Email: james.macallister@ed.ac.uk
Address
- Street
-
Moray House School of Education and Sport, SLH 2.15
- City
- University of Edinburgh (Holyrood Campus)
- Post code
- EH8 8AQ
Background
I was awarded a PhD in the philosophy of education from the University of Edinburgh in 2011. Prior to this I qualified as a primary school teacher, joined the Scottish police service and taught in Edinburgh primary schools. I have also worked at the University of Manchester and the University of Stirling.
Qualifications
PhD Philosophy of Education, University of Edinburgh
MSc Philosophy (Distinction), University of Edinburgh
MSc Education, University of Edinburgh
BEd (Hons) Primary, University of Edinburgh
Responsibilities & affiliations
I lead the Philosophy of Education Pathway of the MSc Education.
Postgraduate teaching
I lead the Ethics, Education and Films course and previously led the Philosophy of Education course.
Research summary
My research explores connections between philosophy and education with a particular focus on ethical challenges and issues in education. My first book, a research monograph with Routledge entitled 'Reclaiming Discipline for Education: Knowledge, relationships and the birth of community', was published in late 2016. I have also written about the educational thinking of the Scottish philosophers John Macmurray, Ronald Hepburn and Alasdair MacIntyre.
Current research interests
My more recent research explores the role that film and other arts might might play in ethics education. I am also writing about environmental tragedy and education for sustainability through film. I am currently working on my second research monograph with Routledge entitled 'Tragedy, Film & Ethics Education: An Evolutionary Aristotelian Philosophy'.Past research interests
In the past I have conducted philosophical inquiries in the following areas: how school discipline might become more educational, what rights children should bear if any, physical education, the curriculum for excellence in Scotland, the importance of personal life in education, virtue epistemology and education, and the purposes of educational institutions. I was also co-investigator on an ESRC funded project on the rights and autonomy of children with additional support needs from 2017-2019.Project activity
- Co-Investigator on large ESRC funded project on the rights of children with additional support needs 2017-2019
- In 2017 I was awarded a small travel grant from the Philosophy of Education Society for Great Britain to present a paper at the International Society for MacIntyrean Enquiry in Paris
- Between 2014-2015 I worked on a project on Discipline and Moral Education for which I was PI. This project was funded by the Journal of Moral Education Trust.
-
On the potential in film for ethics education: In defence of educational ethicism
In:
Journal of Philosophy of Education
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jopedu/qhad017
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Moral learning through tragedy in Aristotle and Force Majeure
In:
Journal of Aesthetic Education, vol. 57, pp. 1-18
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Educating virtues in a plural world: MacIntyre, Williams & Nussbaum on moral education
(15 pages)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429343131
Research output: › Chapter (peer-reviewed) (Published) -
Education in and through Ikiru: From Mu to MacIntyre
(14 pages)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45673-3
Research output: › Chapter (peer-reviewed) (Published) -
Embracing the serpent: Education for ecosophy and aesthetic appreciation
Research output: › Chapter (peer-reviewed) (Published) -
Discipline in education
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-532-7_653-1
Research output: › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary (Published) -
Utopianism of the Present: MacIntyre on Education and the Virtue of Hope
(12 pages)
In:
International Critical Thought, pp. 1-12
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21598282.2019.1647548
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
The Rights of Children with Additional Support Needs: From Paper to Practice
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Digital or Visual Products (Published) -
Realising the educational rights of children with special and additional support needs: Paradigm change or more of the same?
In:
International Journal of Inclusive Education, vol. 23, pp. 469-472
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2019.1580927
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Editorial (Published) -
Enhanced agency rights for older Scottish children with additional support needs: A philosophical review
In:
International Journal of Inclusive Education, vol. 23, pp. 519-531
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2019.1580924
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published)