Professor Thomas Osborne
Professor Thomas Osborne
Professor of Social and Cultural Theory
1.03, 11 Priory Road,
11 Priory Road,
Clifton,
Bristol
BS8 1TU
(See a map)
thomas.osborne@bristol.ac.uk
Telephone Number (0117) 331 7587
Personal profile
Lecturer, Department of Human Sciences, Brunel University, 1991-4.
Lecturer, Department of Sociology, University of Bristol 1994-2000; Reader in Social Theory 2000-2005; Professor of Social and Cultural Theory 2005 –
Editorial Board, Economy and Society
Research
My work mixes historical studies with social and cultural theory and the sociology of knowledge. I was associated early on in my career - about twenty years ago - with the beginnings of governmentality studies in the UK, especially in relation to the history of public health, bio-politics and medical regulation.Subsequently I have developed my interests in the direction of the history of social thought, analytical sociology, and the analysis of literature and aesthetics.
Teaching
I teach core social theory in the first year; theories of power at 3rd year level; and cultural theory on the MSc programme.
Key publications
- Osborne, T 1998, ‘Aspects of enlightenment: Social theory and the ethics of truth’. UCL Press
- Osborne, T 2003, ‘'Against Creativity'’. Economy and Society, vol 32(4)., pp. 507 - 525
- Osborne, T 2003, ‘What is a Problem?’. History of the Human Sciences, vol 16 (4)., pp. 1 - 17
- Osborne, T 2004, ‘On mediators: intellectuals and the ideas trade in the knowledge society’. Economy and Society, vol 33 (4)., pp. 430 - 447
- Osborne, T & N., R 2008, ‘Populating Sociology: Carr-Saunders and the problem of population’. Sociological Review, vol 56., pp. 552 - 578
- Osborne, T 2008, ‘The Structure of Modern Cultural Theory’. Manchester University Press
Full publications list in the University of Bristol publications system