Philosophy MA

The programme allows students to develop an advanced knowledge of problems in contemporary analytic philosophy, the history of philosophy and the study of value. It provides students with an understanding of a representative range of central philosophical debates and of the nature of philosophical problems, and encourages them to develop and defend their own viewpoint.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of two core modules (30 credits), six optional modules (90 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).

These modules introduce students to graduate study in philosophy. Students will give short presentations on central topics and classic papers which form the basis of discussion.

• Research Preparation in Philosophy 1
• Research Preparation in Philosophy 2

Options may include the following:

• Foundations of Effective Altruism
• Intentional Agency, Acting for a Reason and Responsibility
• Early Wittgenstein
• Epistemology
• Self-Knowledge
• Philosophy of Mind
• Global Justice and Health
• Free Speech
• Greek Philosophy
• Nineteenth Century Philosophy
• Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science
• Metaphysics of Science
• The Self in Early Analytic Philosophy
• Sartre’s Philosophy
• Epistemology of Disagreement
• Equality
• Recent Work in Practical Philosophy
• Graduate Studies in the Philosophy of Language
• Perception and its History

All students undertake an independent research project in any area of philosophy taught and approved by the department, leading to in a dissertation of 12,000 words.

The programme is taught through a combination of seminars, lectures, and supervisions. Students' performance is assessed through examinations, presentations, coursework, and the dissertation.