About
Dr John William Devine is Senior Lecturer in Ethics and a member of A-STEM's Sports Ethics and Integrity Group.
- Called to the Bar of England and Wales – Middle Temple
- DPhil – University of Oxford
- MPhil – University of Cambridge
- BA – University College Dublin
John William obtained a BA in Philosophy and Politics at University College Dublin, an MPhil in Philosophy at the University of Cambridge (King’s College), and a DPhil in Political Theory at the University of Oxford (New College).
He subsequently trained as a barrister and was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Middle Temple. During this legal training, he was awarded the Queen Mother Scholarship and the Lechmere Essay Prize by Middle Temple. He also holds a Diploma in Sports Law from The Law Society of Ireland, for which he was awarded the prize for outstanding performance.
Prior to arriving at Swansea University, he held positions in the philosophy departments at the University of Birmingham, King’s College London, and Trinity College Dublin.
His research concerns political philosophy and the philosophy of sport. Within political philosophy, his work centres on political ethics and ethics in public office, especially ethical questions surrounding privacy, trust, and integrity that arise for political leaders within liberal democracies. Within the philosophy of sport, his work focuses on sports ethics. He is exploring ethical questions around enhancement in a monograph provisionally titled ‘Ethics, Excellence, and Enhancement in Sport’ (contracted with Routledge).
John William has extensive public engagement experience, and his work has been featured on BBC Radio 4 (‘The Moral Maze’), BBC World Service, Cycling Weekly, The Forum for Philosophy, The Irish Times, The Irish Examiner website, and the University of Oxford website (‘Oxford Debates’ series). He is an occasional contributor at The Conversation, and his articles on that platform can be viewed here.
John William has served as Chair of the British Philosophy of Sport Association and is currently Chair of the South Wales Police Joint Independent Ethics Committee.