Philosophy and History of Science

MA in Philosophy and History of Science

Mode: part-time

One of the principle research areas of The Department of Philosophy is philosophy and history of science. There is particular strength in philosophy of physics; philosophy of biology; philosophy of psychology and neuroscience; philosophy of mathematics; philosophical logic; philosophy of mind, metaphysics and epistemology; and the history of science.

Our staff have been highly successful in attracting external and internal research awards, including three Philip Leverhulme Prizes. The Department hosts the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, which is arguably the premier philosophy of science journal in the world. In addition to the weekly departmental research seminars there are regular seminars in philosophy and history of science, incorporating joint seminars with the Departments of Physics, Mathematics and Biology. The Department also regularly hosts international conferences.

Programme Structure
You will take six taught units (two compulsory and four optional units):

Compulsory Units

• Philosophical Writing and Research Seminar
• Scientific Epistemology and Methodology

Optional Units

• Epistemology and Metaphysics
• History of Science
• Philosophy and History of Mathematics
• Philosophy and History of Medicine
• Philosophy of Biology
• Philosophy of Physics
• Philosophy of Psychology
• Research Project
• Value Theory (semester 2)

All students who achieve a passing average mark on the taught units begin work on a dissertation.

Dissertation
You will write a dissertation of not more than 15,000 words.