
Mr Johann Go
I am the Stipendiary Lecturer in Political Theory at Pembroke College, where I teach both Prelims and Finals papers in political theory. I am also a Rhodes Scholar and DPhil/PhD candidate in political philosophy.
As a political philosopher, I specialise in theories of social, global, and distributive justice. I have particular interests in egalitarianism, global health justice and biomedical ethics, the nature and scope of our duties and responsibilities of justice, the nature and significance of vulnerability in justice and normative ethical theories, and methodology in political philosophy. I have published on these topics in peer-reviewed academic journals. My current research focuses on the demands of justice in global health, where I am developing a cosmopolitan account of justice in health.
I am passionate about making philosophy and political theory accessible to the general populace. I have written widely for the mainstream media on topics ranging from the ethics of euthanasia and Covid-19 restrictions through to the work of John Rawls and homelessness as a justice issue.
I previously completed an MPhil in Political Theory with Distinction at the University of Oxford in 2021. Prior to joining the Department of Politics and International Relations, I was the inaugural Provost's Scholar (2018) at Worcester College, University of Oxford and Academic Visitor in Political Theory (2019). I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Auckland (New Zealand), where I obtained a BA in Philosophy and Politics, as well as a BHSc in Public Health.
In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, reading, walking in nature, and sampling specialty coffee in some of the local independent coffee shops.
- Jacobsen Studentship Award (2022) - Royal Institute of Philosophy
- Aristotelian Society Student Bursary Award (2022) - Aristotelian Society
- College Prize for Academic Distinction (2021) - Worcester College, Oxford
- Rhodes Scholarship (2019) - University of Oxford
- Provost's Scholarship (2018) - Worcester College, Oxford
- Dean's Honours List (2018) - University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Johann Go. (2023). "The Expressive Function of Healthcare," Journal of Ethics.
- Johann Go. (2020). "Facts, Principles, and Global Justice: Does the Real World Matter?" Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy.
- Johann Go. (2020). "Two-Level Luck Egalitarianism: Reconciling Rights, Respect, and Responsibility," Journal of Value Inquiry.
- Johann Go. (2019). “Structure, Choice, and Responsibility.” Ethics and Behavior 30, no. 3 (pp. 230-46).
- Johann Go. (2018). “Should Gender Reassignment Surgery be Publicly Funded?” Journal of Bioethical Inquiry 15, no. 4 (pp. 527-34).
- Johann Go. (2018). “Mill and the Limits of Freedom of Expression: Truth, Lies, and Harm.” International Journal of Applied Philosophy 32, no. 1 (pp. 1-18).
Personal Website: www.johanngo.com
Departmental Web Profile: https://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/person/johann-go
Mr Johann Go

I am the Stipendiary Lecturer in Political Theory at Pembroke College, where I teach both Prelims and Finals papers in political theory. I am also a Rhodes Scholar and DPhil/PhD candidate in political philosophy.
As a political philosopher, I specialise in theories of social, global, and distributive justice. I have particular interests in egalitarianism, global health justice and biomedical ethics, the nature and scope of our duties and responsibilities of justice, the nature and significance of vulnerability in justice and normative ethical theories, and methodology in political philosophy. I have published on these topics in peer-reviewed academic journals. My current research focuses on the demands of justice in global health, where I am developing a cosmopolitan account of justice in health.
I am passionate about making philosophy and political theory accessible to the general populace. I have written widely for the mainstream media on topics ranging from the ethics of euthanasia and Covid-19 restrictions through to the work of John Rawls and homelessness as a justice issue.
I previously completed an MPhil in Political Theory with Distinction at the University of Oxford in 2021. Prior to joining the Department of Politics and International Relations, I was the inaugural Provost's Scholar (2018) at Worcester College, University of Oxford and Academic Visitor in Political Theory (2019). I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Auckland (New Zealand), where I obtained a BA in Philosophy and Politics, as well as a BHSc in Public Health.
In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, reading, walking in nature, and sampling specialty coffee in some of the local independent coffee shops.
- Jacobsen Studentship Award (2022) - Royal Institute of Philosophy
- Aristotelian Society Student Bursary Award (2022) - Aristotelian Society
- College Prize for Academic Distinction (2021) - Worcester College, Oxford
- Rhodes Scholarship (2019) - University of Oxford
- Provost's Scholarship (2018) - Worcester College, Oxford
- Dean's Honours List (2018) - University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Johann Go. (2023). "The Expressive Function of Healthcare," Journal of Ethics.
- Johann Go. (2020). "Facts, Principles, and Global Justice: Does the Real World Matter?" Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy.
- Johann Go. (2020). "Two-Level Luck Egalitarianism: Reconciling Rights, Respect, and Responsibility," Journal of Value Inquiry.
- Johann Go. (2019). “Structure, Choice, and Responsibility.” Ethics and Behavior 30, no. 3 (pp. 230-46).
- Johann Go. (2018). “Should Gender Reassignment Surgery be Publicly Funded?” Journal of Bioethical Inquiry 15, no. 4 (pp. 527-34).
- Johann Go. (2018). “Mill and the Limits of Freedom of Expression: Truth, Lies, and Harm.” International Journal of Applied Philosophy 32, no. 1 (pp. 1-18).
Personal Website: www.johanngo.com
Departmental Web Profile: https://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/person/johann-go