Research Profile
Alvin Chen D.Phil OXF
Research – Exploring Ethical Framework for Law and Policy in Digital Transformation
I am a political theorist working on ethics and public policy, as well as AI ethics and global health. I am currently working on a book project on the state’s duty to the right to health and to the global community of humanity. Building on the earlier works on the history of social rights, my most recent publications investigate issues like the legitimacy of health intervention and the constitutional framework for the right to health.
My research interests span across several disciplines, including Ethics, Bioethics, Global and Public Health, History of Political Thought, Human Rights, International Relations, Legal and Political Theory, and Public Policy.
Funding and Teaching – Successful Research Funds Applications and Teaching Excellence
I have outstanding records in research funding applications and teaching. Since graduation from 2019, my research has been supported by institutes like Academia Sinica, The Ministry of Science and Technology, and National Science and Technology Council. These include research projects on AI Ethics and AI Governance, Ethics of Public Health Law, and the History of Constitutional Rights. In the meantime, I have been nominated for outstanding teaching awards from 2019 to 2025 at the National Taiwan University.
Academic Background – Cross-Cultural Training and Working Experiences
I received my doctoral degree from the University of Oxford in 2019, where I worked on the history of Enlightenment political thought. After graduation, I started to work as an assistant research fellow at Academia Sinica, where I began the project on the intersection between bioethics, public health law, and politics. I was promoted to tenured associate research fellow in 2025, when I started to lead the AI Ethics and Political Theory project. From 2025 onwards, I will be at the University of Chicago as a visiting scholar.
What is Realism in Political Theory?
Briefly speaking, realism in political theory argues that political theory should prioritize real-world, day-to-day political questions, like how can we live peacefully together despite many disagreements, over moral philosophical questions, like what is justice.
Why Bridging AI, Ethics, and Politics?
Public policy, with its ethical framework, are increasingly influenced by the integration of AI technology in our everyday life. Reciprocally, the development of AI technology is also shaped by policy regulations. These call for a new approach to studying the impacts of AI on politics alongside AI governance.
Are You Open to Collaboration?
While all my papers are single-authored, I am open to collaboration on research projects, papers, and discussions related to my areas of expertise. Please feel free to propose any ideas or initiatives you have in mind.
What Connects Ethics with Policy?
Law and policies are made and justified for reasons. Whether these reasons are valid is a question of ethics, as these are reasons with consequences that will change our lives. This is why I study the ethical framework for legislation and policy-making, particularly the reasons for and the grounds of legitimacy of law-making and policy formation.
Is Health Really a Political Issue?
Our standards of health, and our living surroundings that impacts our health, are significantly shaped by public authority that makes individual health an integral part of public interests. The reason and justification for the authority’s efforts to making health public thus become a foundational question when we talk and think about health.
Do You Offer Public Talks?
Yes, I have experiences in public lectures, podcast interviews, and television broadcasts. I firmly believe in the importance to communicate scholarly works to general audience. And I will be happy to provide public talks on my research areas.