About

Some of you may be surprised to discover that PhilosophyOnline is not a university, an organisation, a collection of individuals, or a group-mind: it is I, Gareth Southwell, a freelance philosopher, illustrator, and author. For those of you who are disappointed by this news, please bear in mind that it does have its benefits: I tend to get my own way a lot, and can more or less take my lunch-breaks whenever I feel like. The web design however is down to the wonderful Alex.

These days I am mainly engaged in writing and illustrating, but I still occasionally teach, and also work as an examiner. For those of you who may be interested, you can find out more about these activities further down the page.

About PhilosophyOnline

This site began in 2000 as a means of supporting my own philosophy students. Since then, it has continued to grow and improve, and its purpose is now much expanded. My aim is that the site will provide an accessible introduction for anyone looking for a no-nonsense guide to the subject. You will therefore find material here related to central themes in philosophy (the theory of knowledge, the philosophy of religion, and the philosophy of mind), a few of its key texts (Descartes's Meditations and Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil), a discussion forum, relevant links, book reviews, and various other bits of useful information. I will be adding to these sections as time goes by, and - alongside the redesign and the ongoing publication of my books - I aim to develop the site in new directions. Whilst I restructure and write new material, the old material will still be available, but will eventually be removed (so bear this in mind when using and citing it).

Incidentally, thanks to everyone who has supported the site over the years, and especially to those who have taken time to pass on their comments, suggestions, and general appreciation. Such messages are always welcome, and you can reach me via the contact form on the website. However, if you have a question, please check out the FAQs section before contacting me.

Personal Details

• Name:  Gareth Southwell.
• Residence:  Swansea, Wales, UK.

Qualifications

Mostly, when I can, I buy my qualifications over the internet. However, occasionally I have to actually study for them - here are the main ones:

• BA (Jt Hons): English & Philosophy - Swansea University, 1995.
• PGCE (FE): Swansea Institute of Higher Education, 1999.
• PhD: 'Redefinitions of Death' - Newport University, 2008.

Publications

The Following is a list of books which have either been published, or are in the process of being written (but will definitely come out at some point - when depends on how heavy the publisher gets). Any published books can be purchased through this website.

• A Beginner's Guide to Descartes's Meditations - Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.
• A Beginner's Guide to Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil - Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
• Knowledge and Reality: A Beginner's Guide to the Theory of Knowledge - Wiley-Blackwell, forthcoming.
• A Beginner's Guide to the Philosophy of Mind - Wiley-Blackwell, forthcoming.
• Words of Wisdom - Quercus Publishing, forthcoming.

Philosophy Related Activities

• Webmaster, Content Developer, and General Head Honcho - PhilosophyOnline.co.uk, 2000-present.
• 'A' Level Philosophy Lecturer - Swansea College, 1999-2005.
• International Baccalaureate, Theory of Knowledge Lecturer - Swansea College, 2001-2.
• Examiner, 'A' Level Philosophy - AQA, 2005-present.

Tutoring

I have offered online distance tutoring since about 2001. I am usually available - for 'A' Level, degree or other - but you can contact me to find out more (or else, check out the tutoring page).

Illustration Work

As a freelance illustrator, I have published work in magazines in the UK, USA and Australia. I have been a regular caricaturist for The Philosophers' Magazine since 2003, and I have provided all the covers and interior illustrations for my Wiley-Blackwell books. You can see a portfolio of my work on WarmToastCafe. Please use the contact form on this site to discuss art purchases or to discuss work (I also occasionally do private commissions).

General Information

I have a dog, a cat, two children, and a girlfriend (though not in that order). I count myself very lucky, as I realise that some people never have any of these things, and certainly not all of them at the same time. I enjoy comic books, House MD, and managing my overdraft online. Saturday is my favourite day, and I am a Leo (grrr).

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