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Dr Anneli Jefferson
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy
School of English, Communication and Philosophy
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
My main research areas are philosophy of psychology and moral philosophy, especially the intersection of these areas. I also work in the philosophy of psychiatry.
In moral philosophy, I am currently working on theories of moral responsibility; I defend the importance of the consequences of our practices of holding each other responsible for justifying blame and praise. I also look at ways in which moral agency may be affected in psychiatric illness.
In the philosophy of psychiatry I am investigating the relationship between mental disorders and brain disorders. Are all mental disorders brain disorders, and if so, what does that mean? Is the question of whether mental disorders are brain disorders one to be decided by the philosophy of mind or by practical considerations such as for example 'what kind of treatments work best for this kind of illness'?
For further research, please see my list of publications.
Publication
2024
- Jefferson, A. 2024. “Terminal Anorexia”, treatment refusal and decision-making capacity. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics (10.1017/S0963180124000367)
- Jefferson, A. 2024. Blaming the dead. European Journal of Philosophy 32(2), pp. 548-559. (10.1111/ejop.12947)
- Jefferson, A. 2024. Brain disorders reconsidered – a response to commentaries. Philosophical Psychology 37(3), pp. 644-657. (10.1080/09515089.2024.2313523)
- Jefferson, A. 2024. Are mental disorders brain disorders? -A precis. Philosophical Psychology 37(3), pp. 552-557. (10.1080/09515089.2023.2166822)
- Jefferson, A., Heinrichs, J. and Sifferd, K. 2024. Scaffolding bad moral agents. Topoi (10.1007/s11245-024-10110-2)
2023
- Jefferson, A. and Sifferd, K. 2023. Responsible agency and the importance of moral audience. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 26, pp. 361-375. (10.1007/s10677-023-10385-1)
- Jefferson, A. and Bortolotti, L. 2023. On the moral psychology of the pandemic agent. In: Barbosa, E. ed. Moral Challenges in a Pandemic Age. Routledge Research in Applied Ethics Routledge, pp. 11-33.
2022
- Sifferd, K. and Jefferson, A. 2022. Responsibility for reckless rape. Humana.Mente: Journal of Philosophical Studies 15(42), pp. 119-143.
- Jefferson, A. et al. eds. 2022. Values and virtues for a challenging world. Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements. Cambridge/London: Cambridge University Press/Royal Institute of Philosophy.
- Jefferson, A. and Sifferd, K. 2022. Practical wisdom and the value of cognitive diversity. Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplement 92, pp. 149-166. (10.1017/S1358246122000182)
- Jefferson, A. 2022. Are mental disorders brain disorders?. Routledge Focus on Philosophy. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.
- Jefferson, A. 2022. Brain pathology and moral responsibility. In: King, M. and May, J. eds. Agency in Mental Disorder: Philosophical Dimensions. Oxford University Press, pp. 63-85.
2021
- Jefferson, A. 2021. On mental illness and broken brains. Think 20(Summer), pp. 103-112. (10.1017/S1477175621000099)
2020
- Jefferson, A. 2020. Confabulation, rationalisation and morality. Topoi 39(1), pp. 219-227. (10.1007/s11245-018-9608-7)
- Jefferson, A. 2020. What does it take to be a brain disorder?. Synthese 197, pp. 249-262. (10.1007/s11229-018-1784-x)
2019
- Jefferson, A. 2019. Instrumentalism about moral responsibility revisited. Philosophical Quarterly 69(276), pp. 555-573. (10.1093/pq/pqy062)
- Bortolotti, L. and Jefferson, A. 2019. The power of stories: Responsibility for the use of autobiographical stories in mental health debates. Diametros 16(60), pp. 18-33. (10.33392/diam.1319)
2018
- Jefferson, A. and Bortolotti, L. 2018. Commentary: What aspects of good practice in early interventions in psychosis can be codified in guidelines? – A commentary on Corsico et al. (2018). Child and Adolescent Mental Health 23(3), pp. 194-195. (10.1111/camh.12265)
- Jefferson, A. and Bortolotti, L. 2018. Why (some) unrealistic optimism is permissible in patient decision making. American Journal of Bioethics 18(9), pp. 27--29. (10.1080/15265161.2018.1498940)
2017
- Jefferson, A. 2017. Born to be biased? Unrealistic optimism and error management theory. Philosophical Psychology 30(8), pp. 1159-1175. (10.1080/09515089.2017.1370085)
- Jefferson, A., Bortolotti, L. and Kuzmanovic, B. 2017. What is unrealistic optimism?. Consciousness and Cognition 50, pp. 3--11. (10.1016/j.concog.2016.10.005)
- Jefferson, A., Bortolotti, L. and Kuzmanovic, B. 2017. Unrealistic optimism – Its nature, causes and effects. Consciousness and Cognition 50, pp. 1--2. (10.1016/j.concog.2016.11.008)
- Godman, M. and Jefferson, A. 2017. On blaming and punishing psychopaths. Criminal Law and Philosophy 11, pp. 127--142. (10.1007/s11572-014-9340-3)
2016
- Jefferson, A. 2016. David Shoemaker: Responsibility from the margins [Book Review]. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 20(2), pp. 433--435. (10.1007/s10677-016-9760-3)
- Kuzmanovic, B., Jefferson, A. and Vogeley, K. 2016. The role of the neural reward circuitry in self-referential optimistic belief updates. NeuroImage 133, pp. 151--162. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.02.014)
- Bortolotti, L. and Jefferson, A. 2016. Moral preferences. Society 53(3), pp. 269--272. (10.1007/s12115-016-0027-3)
- Heinrichs, J. and Jefferson, A. 2016. Moralischer Zufall. In: Kühler, M. ed. Handbuch Handlungstheorie. J.B. Metzler, pp. 228--236., (10.1007/978-3-476-05359-6_26)
2015
- Kuzmanovic, B., Jefferson, A. and Vogeley, K. 2015. Self-specific optimism bias in belief updating is associated with high trait optimism. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making 28(3), pp. 281-293. (10.1002/bdm.1849)
2014
- Jefferson, A. 2014. Slippery slopearguments. Philosophy Compass 9(10), pp. 672--680. (10.1111/phc3.12161)
- Jefferson, A. 2014. Mental disorders, brain disorders and values. Frontiers in Psychology 5, article number: 130. (10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00130)
2013
- Kuzmanovic, B., Jefferson, A., Bente, G. and Vogeley, K. 2013. Affective and motivational influences in person perception. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 7, article number: 266. (10.3389/fnhum.2013.00266)
Adrannau llyfrau
- Jefferson, A. and Bortolotti, L. 2023. On the moral psychology of the pandemic agent. In: Barbosa, E. ed. Moral Challenges in a Pandemic Age. Routledge Research in Applied Ethics Routledge, pp. 11-33.
- Jefferson, A. 2022. Brain pathology and moral responsibility. In: King, M. and May, J. eds. Agency in Mental Disorder: Philosophical Dimensions. Oxford University Press, pp. 63-85.
- Heinrichs, J. and Jefferson, A. 2016. Moralischer Zufall. In: Kühler, M. ed. Handbuch Handlungstheorie. J.B. Metzler, pp. 228--236., (10.1007/978-3-476-05359-6_26)
Erthyglau
- Jefferson, A. 2024. “Terminal Anorexia”, treatment refusal and decision-making capacity. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics (10.1017/S0963180124000367)
- Jefferson, A. 2024. Blaming the dead. European Journal of Philosophy 32(2), pp. 548-559. (10.1111/ejop.12947)
- Jefferson, A. 2024. Brain disorders reconsidered – a response to commentaries. Philosophical Psychology 37(3), pp. 644-657. (10.1080/09515089.2024.2313523)
- Jefferson, A. 2024. Are mental disorders brain disorders? -A precis. Philosophical Psychology 37(3), pp. 552-557. (10.1080/09515089.2023.2166822)
- Jefferson, A., Heinrichs, J. and Sifferd, K. 2024. Scaffolding bad moral agents. Topoi (10.1007/s11245-024-10110-2)
- Jefferson, A. and Sifferd, K. 2023. Responsible agency and the importance of moral audience. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 26, pp. 361-375. (10.1007/s10677-023-10385-1)
- Sifferd, K. and Jefferson, A. 2022. Responsibility for reckless rape. Humana.Mente: Journal of Philosophical Studies 15(42), pp. 119-143.
- Jefferson, A. and Sifferd, K. 2022. Practical wisdom and the value of cognitive diversity. Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplement 92, pp. 149-166. (10.1017/S1358246122000182)
- Jefferson, A. 2021. On mental illness and broken brains. Think 20(Summer), pp. 103-112. (10.1017/S1477175621000099)
- Jefferson, A. 2020. Confabulation, rationalisation and morality. Topoi 39(1), pp. 219-227. (10.1007/s11245-018-9608-7)
- Jefferson, A. 2020. What does it take to be a brain disorder?. Synthese 197, pp. 249-262. (10.1007/s11229-018-1784-x)
- Jefferson, A. 2019. Instrumentalism about moral responsibility revisited. Philosophical Quarterly 69(276), pp. 555-573. (10.1093/pq/pqy062)
- Bortolotti, L. and Jefferson, A. 2019. The power of stories: Responsibility for the use of autobiographical stories in mental health debates. Diametros 16(60), pp. 18-33. (10.33392/diam.1319)
- Jefferson, A. and Bortolotti, L. 2018. Commentary: What aspects of good practice in early interventions in psychosis can be codified in guidelines? – A commentary on Corsico et al. (2018). Child and Adolescent Mental Health 23(3), pp. 194-195. (10.1111/camh.12265)
- Jefferson, A. and Bortolotti, L. 2018. Why (some) unrealistic optimism is permissible in patient decision making. American Journal of Bioethics 18(9), pp. 27--29. (10.1080/15265161.2018.1498940)
- Jefferson, A. 2017. Born to be biased? Unrealistic optimism and error management theory. Philosophical Psychology 30(8), pp. 1159-1175. (10.1080/09515089.2017.1370085)
- Jefferson, A., Bortolotti, L. and Kuzmanovic, B. 2017. What is unrealistic optimism?. Consciousness and Cognition 50, pp. 3--11. (10.1016/j.concog.2016.10.005)
- Jefferson, A., Bortolotti, L. and Kuzmanovic, B. 2017. Unrealistic optimism – Its nature, causes and effects. Consciousness and Cognition 50, pp. 1--2. (10.1016/j.concog.2016.11.008)
- Godman, M. and Jefferson, A. 2017. On blaming and punishing psychopaths. Criminal Law and Philosophy 11, pp. 127--142. (10.1007/s11572-014-9340-3)
- Jefferson, A. 2016. David Shoemaker: Responsibility from the margins [Book Review]. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 20(2), pp. 433--435. (10.1007/s10677-016-9760-3)
- Kuzmanovic, B., Jefferson, A. and Vogeley, K. 2016. The role of the neural reward circuitry in self-referential optimistic belief updates. NeuroImage 133, pp. 151--162. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.02.014)
- Bortolotti, L. and Jefferson, A. 2016. Moral preferences. Society 53(3), pp. 269--272. (10.1007/s12115-016-0027-3)
- Kuzmanovic, B., Jefferson, A. and Vogeley, K. 2015. Self-specific optimism bias in belief updating is associated with high trait optimism. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making 28(3), pp. 281-293. (10.1002/bdm.1849)
- Jefferson, A. 2014. Slippery slopearguments. Philosophy Compass 9(10), pp. 672--680. (10.1111/phc3.12161)
- Jefferson, A. 2014. Mental disorders, brain disorders and values. Frontiers in Psychology 5, article number: 130. (10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00130)
- Kuzmanovic, B., Jefferson, A., Bente, G. and Vogeley, K. 2013. Affective and motivational influences in person perception. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 7, article number: 266. (10.3389/fnhum.2013.00266)
Llyfrau
- Jefferson, A. et al. eds. 2022. Values and virtues for a challenging world. Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements. Cambridge/London: Cambridge University Press/Royal Institute of Philosophy.
- Jefferson, A. 2022. Are mental disorders brain disorders?. Routledge Focus on Philosophy. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.
Research
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Articles and Book Chapters
Jefferson, A. 2021: On Mental Illness and Broken Brains. Think 20:58, 103-112
Jefferson, A. 2020: What does it take to be brain disorder? Synthese 197, 249–262
Jefferson, A. 2020: Confabulation, Rationalisation and Morality. Topoi 39, 219-227
Jefferson, A. 2019: Instrumentalism about Moral Responsibility Revisited. The Philosophical Quarterly 69:276, 555-573
Bortolotti, L. and Jefferson, A. 2019: The Power of Stories: Responsibility for the Use of Autobiographical Stories in Mental Health Debates. Diametros 16:60, 18-33
Jefferson, A. and Sifferd, K. 2018: Are psychopaths legally insane? European Journal of Analytic Philosophy 14:1, 79-96
Jefferson, A. 2017: Born to be Biased? Unrealistic Optimism and Error Management Theory. Philosophical Psychology 30:8, 1159-1175
Godman, M. and Jefferson, A. 2017: On Blaming and Punishing Psychopaths. Journal of Criminal Law and Philosophy 11:1, 127-142
Jefferson, A., Bortolotti, L. and Kuzmanovic, B. 2017: What is unrealistic Optimism? Consciousness and Cognition 50, 3-11
Heinrichs, J.H. and Jefferson, A. 2016: Moralischer Zufall (Moral Luck) In: M. Kühler, M. Rüther (eds.) Handbuch Handlungstheorie (Handbook Theory of Action). Stuttgart: Metzler, 228-235
Kuzmanovic, B., Jefferson, A. and Vogeley, K. 2016: The Role of the neural reward circuitry in self-referential optimistic belief updates. Neuroimage 133, 151-162 Kuzmanovic, B., Jefferson, A., and Vogeley, K. 2015: Self-Specific Optimism Bias is Associated with high Trait Optimism. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making 28:3, 281-293
Jefferson, A. 2014: Slippery Slope Arguments. Philosophy Compass. 9:10, 672-680 doi: 10.1111/phc3.12161 Jefferson, A. 2014: Mental Disorders, Brain Disorders and Values. Frontiers in Psychology 5, 1-3doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00130. Kuzmanovic, B., Jefferson, A., Vogeley, K. and Bente, G 2013: Affective and Motivational Influences in Person Perception. Frontiers of Human Neuroscience 7: 266 doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00266 |
Biography
Before starting at Cardiff University in September 2019, I worked at the University of Birmingham, first on the ,Costs and Benefits of Optimism' project with Lisa Bortolotti, then as a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow. My project during the Early Career Fellowship was entitled 'Mental Disorders, Brain Disorders and Moral Responsibility'.
After completing my PhD, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the institute of Neuroscience and Medicine at the Research Centre Jülich, Germany.
I received my MPhil and PhD from King's College London.
I gained my Magister Artium from the Heinrich Heine Universitaet Duesseldorf and completed training as secondary school teacher for Philosophy and English in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Contact Details
JeffersonA1@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 29208 75622
John Percival Building, Room Room 2.64, Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU
+44 29208 75622
John Percival Building, Room Room 2.64, Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU
