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Associate Professor Krushil Watene PhD, MA
Associate Professor
Doctoral Supervisor School of Humanities Media and Creative CommMy broad areas of research are moral and political philosophy. I’m interested in concepts like: equality, community, freedom, and rights. I’m interested in how we improve people’s lives (well-being) and how we make society and the world just (social and global justice). Much of my work is written from the perspective of the ‘capability approach’. As a theory of well-being, the capability approach tells us that we should be concerned with what people are able to do and be (our capabilities to function). We improve people's lives by expanding their real opportunities to live the kinds of lives they value and have reason to value.
My work also crosses over into development studies – particularly ‘Development Ethics’ which asks questions like: What should the ends and means of development be? Is economic wealth all that matters? How does policy most usefully reflect and capture what we have reason to value?
I’m also committed to indigenous and pasifika peoples' perspectives. I’m interested in the contribution of Māori justice concepts to global justice theorising, as well as Māori and Pasifika health and development policies. I take a keen interest particularly in the development needs and aspirations of my own hapū and iwi.
My research addresses fundamental questions in moral and political philosophy, particularly those related to well-being, development, and justice. My primary areas of expertise include mainstream theories of well-being and justice (particularly the capability approach), obligations to future generations, and indigenous (particularly Māori) philosophies. My research pioneers high-level discussions of indigenous concepts in global justice theorising, grounded in research that demonstrates the central role of local indigenous communities.
Professional
Contact details
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Location: AT2.64, Atrium Building
Campus: Albany
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy - University of St Andrews (2011)
- Master of Arts (First Class Honours) - University of Auckland (2006)
Certifications and Registrations
- Licence, Supervisor, Massey University
Prizes and Awards
- MURF Early Career Award - Massey University Research Fund (2017)
Research Expertise
Research Interests
Philosophy: Contemporary Moral and Political Philosophy; Applied Ethics; Theories of social and global justice; well-being; the Capability Approach; Maori social justice concepts
Development Ethics: The Human Development and Capability Approach; Indigenous Development; indigenous well-being; sustainable development
Area of Expertise
Field of research codes
Applied Ethics (220100):
Environmental Philosophy (220303):
Ethical Theory (220305):
Human Rights and Justice Issues (220104):
Other Philosophy and Religious Studies (229900):
Philosophy (220300):
Philosophy And Religious Studies (220000):
Philosophy and Religious Studies not elsewhere classified (229999):
Political Science (160600):
Political Theory and Political Philosophy (160609):
Studies In Human Society (160000)
Keywords
Philosophy: Contemporary Moral and Political Philosophy; Applied Ethics; Theories of social and global justice; well-being; the Capability Approach; Maori social justice concepts
Development Ethics: The Human Development and Capability Approach; Indigenous Development; indigenous well-being; sustainable development
Research Projects
Summary of Research Projects
| Position | Current | Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Project Leader | 6 | 9 |
Completed Projects
Project Title: Exploring Maori Social Justice Concepts
Date Range: 2017 - 2020
Funding Body: Royal Society of New Zealand
Project Team:
- A/Pro Krushil Watene - Project Leader
Project Title: NSC - Mauri Whenua Ora (Our Land & Water National Science Challenge)
Date Range: 2016 - 2019
Funding Body: University of Otago
Project Team:
- A/Pro Krushil Watene - Project Leader
Research Outputs
Journal
[Journal article]Authored by: Grix, M., Matthewson, O., Schouten, V., Watene, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Watene, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Watene, K.Edited by: Watene, K.
[Journal article]Authored by: Watene, K.Edited by: Watene, K.
[Book Review]Authored by: Watene, K.
Book
[Edited Book]Edited by: Watene, K.
[Chapter]Authored by: Watene, K.
[Chapter]Authored by: Watene, K.Contributed to by: Watene, K.
[Chapter]Authored by: Watene, K.
[Chapter]Authored by: Watene, K.
Report
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Watene, K.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Watene, K.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Watene, K.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Watene, K.
Conference
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Watene, K.Contributed to by: Watene, K.
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Watene, K.
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Watene, K.
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Watene, K.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Watene, K.
Other
Teaching and Supervision
Teaching Statement
I coordinate courses in moral and political philosophy, ethics, environmental philosophy, and indigenous philosophies.
Graduate Supervision Statement
I am available to supervise MA and PhD students in the areas of moral and poltiical philosophy, ethics, environmental philosophy, and indigenous philosophies.
Associate Professor Krushil Watene is available for Masters and Doctorial supervision.
Media and Links
Other Links
- International Development Ethics Association - IDEA promotes ethical discussion of development: the nature of ethically desirable development, ethical means for achieving development, and ethical dilemmas arising in the practice of development.
- Capability Approach - HDCA is a global community of academics and practitioners that seeks to build an intellectual community around the ideas of the capability approach, and relate these ideas to the policy arena.