The Freedom Center emphasizes its dedication to advancing academic inquiry and collaboration. By providing resources and hosting conferences, the Center empowers researchers to address critical global challenges and inform public discourse.
Foundational Research into Freedom
We in the Freedom Center believe that “freedom is foundational to a healthy democracy and a vibrant university community, which are enriched when we learn about and appreciate diverse perspectives.” These perspectives refer to not only different views about the nature and value of freedom, along its many dimensions (metaphysical, political, ethical, psychological, etc.), but also to different methodological approaches to studying ideas associated with the concept that span across academic disciplines (philosophy, economics, politics and law, etc.) The scholarly contributions from the members of the Freedom Center reflect this diversity of outlook and approach, addressing both theoretical and empirical, abstract and applied, issues.
The Freedom Center was founded on the idea that its scholars should work together in a symbiotic environment. The sum should be greater than its parts. The variety of topics, outlooks, and methodological approaches to studying freedom represented by the members of the Center has made it into a unique institution, one that stands apart and acts as a corrective to the increasing specialization of the academy.
The Freedom Center’s core faculty unite a diverse set of expertise across philosophy, economics, politics, law, and the social sciences to examine freedom in all its dimensions. Their research drives our foundational understanding to inspire innovative solutions to complex societal challenges across all platforms and representations of freedom.
Announcement!
Arizona Workshop on Freedom & Responsibility
November 7-8, 2025
Featured Speakers & Talks
- Keynote Speaker: Dana Nelkin (University of California, San Diego)
“Normative Powers and Responsibility Practices” - Derk Pereboom (Cornell University)
“The Ability to Do Otherwise and the Accessibility of Alternatives” - Jason Turner (University of Arizona)
“Contextualism about Abilities” - Mark Balaguer (California State University, Los Angeles)
“A New Response to the Luck Objection” - Carolina Sartorio (Rutgers University)
“Basic and non-basic responsibility: Against unification”
Our Scholars Make an Impact Across America and Throughout the World
The Freedom Center is a global leader in interdisciplinary research, uniting experts in areas such as free speech, the rule of law, freedom of contract, academic freedom, markets and democracy, the gender wage gap, and the ethics of just war. Since 2019 alone, its faculty and alumni have produced 624 publications, including books and articles in top-tier journals. This achievement underscores both the exceptional caliber of the Center’s scholars and the robust support provided through reduced teaching loads, conference funding, and workshops.
Freedom Center faculty, affiliated faculty, and postdoctoral research associates teach in the U of A James E. Rogers College of Law and Philosophy Department, as well as courses in Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law (PPEL) in the Department of Political Economy & Moral Science. They reflect the Center’s multiple disciplinary perspectives, commitment to training critical thinkers and fostering constructive debate. These courses include: Law & Legal Theory, Political Economy Through Experiments, Symbolic Logic, Seminar in Social & Political Philosophy
Our University of Arizona alumni are part of the Freedom Center family. During their time on campus, they served as editorial assistants for academic journals we support or research assistants for our faculty. Today, they are using their knowledge and experience as scholars at colleges and universities worldwide.
Freedom Center Workshops
Bringing scholars together to examine freedom, moral agency, and justice, the Freedom Center workshops create opportunities for engagement between leading researchers and professors. Through discussions on a diverse range of topics, participants gain deeper insights into the fundamental principles that shape freedom.
How we Support Our Student Researchers
The Freedom Center sponsors the work of exceptional Ph.D. students in the U of A Philosophy Department and beyond. They serve as a crucial member of our team working on various projects, including editorial assistants for academic journals, curating Freedom Center talk and serving as research assistants for our faculty.
If you are a Ph.D. student interested in collaborating on interdisciplinary research or learning more about available opportunities, please complete the form below. Our team will review your submission and get back to you with more information.
How we Support Other Professional Scholars
The Freedom Center’s Visiting Fellows Program [link out to Visiting Fellows in People/Team for now] ignites a synergy between renowned academics and the University of Arizona community, all while supporting the Center’s core mission. Distinguished scholars join us for one to six weeks annually over a three-year period, receiving dedicated time and resources to advance their research projects. This focused environment enriches the intellectual atmosphere of both the Freedom Center and the broader university, particularly through our “Freedom Center Talk Series” where fellows present their work and engage in dynamic discussions with students and faculty.
Learn More about past Visiting Fellows or inquire about becoming one below
