British Philosophical Association
History of the BPA
The predecessor of the Association, the Standing Conference of Philosophers and the National Committee for Philosophy, was set up in the early 1980’s (largely through the efforts of George Macdonald Ross), at a time when the future of a number of Philosophy Departments appeared to be under threat as universities responded to the first round of cuts in government funding in 1981, and subsequent rounds. The National Committee sought to act as a voice for Philosophy within the UK HE system, and organised the Standing Conference’s annual meetings, to which departments affiliated to the National Committee sent delegates. The Standing Conference elected the members of the National Committee. The Committee’s link with the profession was thus through having departments affiliated to it. (In particular, it had an NCP representative in each department serving as a contact through whom information could flow, in both directions.)
