I am currently doing my PhD in political theory at the LSE under Anne Phillips’ supervision. I work on a relational reconceptualization of the liberal understanding of individual autonomy. My aim is to devise a relational account of autonomy that could help reframe policies, laws and institutions. I hold a B.A in Philosophy and Political Science and an M.A in Philosophy, both from Université de Montréal. My Master’s thesis (under Daniel Weinstock’s supervision) aimed at reconciling multicultural frameworks with feminist criticisms and insights.
Thesis
Relational Autonomy in a political perspective
Feminists have lengthily criticized the liberal understanding of individual autonomy. Some have pointed out that because most liberal accounts of autonomy focus exclusively on the individuals, they are blind to the deleterious impact oppressive socio-relational contexts can have on their autonomy. However, simultaneously, others have criticized autonomy as being an exclusionary concept, which under the cover of universalism and neutrality marginalizes subjectivities that do not correspond to a prejudiced and narrow vision of what constitutes an “autonomous individual.”
Relational accounts of autonomy have emerged as answers to either the “problem of oppression” or the “problem of exclusion”. The first aim of my PhD dissertation is to construct a framework that could solve both problems simultaneously and in a satisfactory manner. I am interested in questions such as the effect of oppressive circumstances on individual autonomy, what constitutes a problematic adaptive preference and the effects of gendered norms on agency. I am also working on issues linked to epistemic inequality, the “victim or agent paradigm,” and the ethic of representation.
My second aim is to show the way such a relational framework could transform how we frame socio-political issues linked to individual autonomy on the political level. Policy frameworks surrounding matters such as intimate partner violence, surrogate motherhood, prostitution, children’s education and parental leaves are the crux of my research here.
Research interests
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Political theory
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Political philosophy
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Feminism
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Philosophy of law
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Liberalism
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Personal autonomy
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Relational autonomy
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Freedom
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Agency under oppressive circumstances
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Adaptive preferences
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Epistemic inequalities
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Standpoint theory
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Ethic of representation
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Institutional design
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Intimate partner abuse
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Education
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Gendered division of work
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Surrogate motherhood
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Prostitution
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Parental leaves
Publications
Gauthier-Chung, Maud. « Égalité entre les sexes et libéralisme : le cas des congés de paternité », (“Sex Equality and Liberalism: the paternity leaves case ”) Politique et Sociétés, (forthcoming).
Gauthier-Chung, Maud. « La connaissance de soi chez Saint-Thomas d’Aquin ou l’impératif philosophique et religieux de se connaître soi-même », (“Self-Knowledge in St. Thomas Aquinas, or the Philosophical and Religious Imperative of Self-Knowledge”) Revue dire, summer 2011, 34-40.
Contact
Email: M.F.Gauthier-Chung@lse.ac.uk