Philosophy

Philosophy explores our existence using critical thinking and argument. If you find yourself thinking about life's big issues and questions, philosophy could be for you.

We specialise in continental (European) philosophy and teach key texts from the European tradition, including some of the most exciting thinkers of the last century such as Nietzsche, Sartre, Deleuze, and de Beauvoir.

We help you look at how philosophy is important to real-world concerns and contemporary issues by:

• exploring films and artwork

• discussing important scientific and technological developments

• debating controversial ethical issues

• looking at how texts written three hundred years ago can be relevant to political situations today

At Levels 1 and 2 you will receive a grounding in ancient and modern philosophy and be introduced to fundamental ideas concerning ethics, epistemology (the nature of knowledge), and metaphysics (the nature of reality).

You then specialise at Levels 3 and 4 by drawing on a range of philosophy modules taught by lecturers engaging in interdisciplinary research.

You will study existentialism in relation to contemporary culture, technology, and film, and topics in aesthetics and the philosophy of art. You will also be encouraged to make links between philosophy and other subjects, such as politics, literature, film, the environment, psychology, and computer science.