His interests are in education, philosophy and social policy and is a lifelong Fellow of the New Zealand Academy of Humanities. His research interests are in educational philosophy, theory and policy studies with a focus on the significance of both contemporary philosophers (Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Heidegger) and the movements of poststructuralism, critical theory and analytic philosophy to the framing of educational theory and practice.

The Last Book of Postmodernism (Peter Lang, 2011) comprises set of essays written on and about postmodernism and education. It is written in an apocalyptic tone that treats themes of religion and spiritualism, drawing on poststructuralist sources of inspiration, to contrast the present postmodern condition and the philosophical significance and historical influence of Nietzsche's statement 'God is dead'.

The book considers the meaning of the end of Christendom and the prospect of global spirituality. It also considers the end of literature and the beginning of user-generated cultures and the implications of this shift for education and the philosophical model of dialogue that has dominated the humanities in the West.

It charts the end of philosophy and the rise of body criticism, the promise of the Enlightenment, the relation between education, power and freedom, geophilosophy and the pedagogy of the concept, and the narrative turn as a basis for a new critical language for educational studies. Finally, the book considers post-postmodernism and the end of the linguistic turn in educational theory.