Joseph Chapman

(he/him)

Overview

I joined Cardiff University as a full-time postgraduate researcher in October 2022. Since October 2023, I have also worked as a Graduate Tutor. I am supervised by Dr Patrick Hassan and benefiting greatly from his expertise on Nietzsche and nihilism, the philosophical tradition of pessimism, and the German historicist tradition.

My research offers a new interpretation of Nietzsche's conception of nihilism. In the broadest sense, nihilism refers to a problem with (or lack of) values and meaning. Many scholars recognise that the problem of nihilism occupies a position of central importance in Nietzsche's work. Many Scholars also recognise that Nietzsche' philosophical method of genealogy, a form of jointly philosophical and historical analysis, is integral to many of his insights. However, there's been no attempt to make sense of his conception of nihilism in terms of his favoured methodology; acheiving this is the overarching aim of my research. 

Outside of this research, I am particularly interested in existential phenomenology (e.g. Heidegger, French Existentialism), other philosophers who employ genealogy (e.g. Foucault) and existential psychotherapy.