Kingston Plans to Close Its Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy
The administration of Kingston University has announced plans to close its Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy (CRMEP).
The demise of CRMEP is part of the university’s plan to shutter the entire Humanities Department, which would affect English Literature and Modern Languages programs as well.
Times Higher Ed provides some background:
The faculty and staff union at Kingston has objected to the “barrage of closures to courses and entire departments” and “emails to numerous members inviting them to “consultations” regarding the future of their employment,” arguing in a letter that the process has been “unlawful and unreasonable”.
In an open letter, students and researchers at CRMEP say that they “unequivocally condemn” the proposal to close the center, writing that
CRMEP has forged a distinct space for itself within UK higher education. Committed to a politically and socially engaged philosophy, one that probes the outer edges of the discipline in its relation to arts, sciences, and the wider humanities, it is one of a handful of institutions that offers an alternative to the analytic style predominant in most philosophy departments.
You can learn more about CRMEP here.
The Decline of Philosophy Departments: A Crisis of Perception, Not Relevance
Philosophy cultivates some of the most vital intellectual skills: critical thinking, the ability to challenge ideas, and the confidence to assert positions that challenge prevailing norms. These qualities have never been more essential than they are today—when misinformation, ideological rigidity, and shallow discourse dominate public and political life. And yet, paradoxically, we are witnessing the systematic closure of philosophy departments across universities.
In the UK at least (although perhaps not elsewhere) closures are not driven by a lack of intellectual value but by a perceived lack of economic utility. Students are not enrolling in philosophy degrees at the rates they once did, often because of concerns about employability. Universities, in turn, justify shutting down departments by pointing to declining enrolment. This is a self-fulfilling crisis—one driven not by a lack of need for philosophy but by a failure to properly communicate its benefits.
A degree in philosophy does not lead solely to an academic career. Its graduates are found across law, politics, business, journalism, artificial intelligence, ethics, and beyond—fields that require clear reasoning, ethical discernment, and the ability to navigate complexity. The answer to declining enrolment is not to dismantle philosophy departments but to educate potential students, employers, and policymakers on its value.
Philosophy needs better advocacy, better outreach, and yes—better marketing. The closure of departments in response to dwindling numbers is reactive, short-sighted, and ultimately self-defeating. The real challenge is not philosophy’s relevance but its visibility.
Instead of asking whether universities can afford to keep philosophy departments open, we should be asking whether we can afford to lose them.
Originally posted here: https://www.facebook.com/100000449020488/posts/9791723240852546/?