BA (Hons) Philosophy (with Foundation Year)

Through Philosophy, you’ll address fundamental questions about ourselves and our place in the world. However, much of English-speaking philosophy has been dominated by a narrow range of voices - in particular, the voices of white, male professional philosophers.

In this module, explore the question of which voices should we engage with when we philosophise? You’ll examine the potential contributions to philosophical discussion of;

• Women and feminist voices
• The non-academic community
• Scientists
• Philosophers working in the continental European tradition, like Husserl, Heidgger and Merleau-Ponty

In small group settings, you’ll explore and discuss topics like the challenge of experimental philosophy, the discussion of sex and gender, the role of Philosophical Misogyny and when can science take over from philosophy.

Will listening to these voices serve to enrich philosophy or change its direction?

In this module, you’ll accelerate your career and gain the key tools to succeed in your Philosophy degree. You’ll unlock your potential for excellence, as you gain knowledge of:

• basic philosophical concepts
• how to read philosophy
• how to identify a philosophical question.

You’ll also gain the knowledge to construct and evaluate a philosophical argument using logical reasoning. These are critical and analytical skills which are vital for work.

Should we give money to beggars on the street? Do we need to do more for refugees?

In this module, you’ll gain a strong knowledge of ethics. You’ll dive into three main areas - normative ethics, meta-ethics and applied ethics.

In normative ethics, you’ll examine virtue ethics, deontology and consequentialism through reading the works of Aristotle, Kant and J.S. Mill.

In meta-ethics, you’ll examine how our morals change over time, and differ between cultures. You’ll question whether God is relevant to ethics, and what evolutionary theory can tell us about our morals.

And in applied ethics, you’ll consider questions such as: is it right to try to cure disability? Is disability worse than non-disability? You’ll consider income inequality and government policies to change it. And you’ll consider the ethics of having children - is it right or wrong to bring people into existence?

What does it mean to be human? Are humans the same as other animals? How do race and gender relate to human nature? In this module, you’ll explore some of the biggest questions facing humanity, and join philosophers throughout the ages in exploring human nature. You’ll gain core critical skills as you debate how best to study our nature. You’ll ask whether, if we’re products of evolution, human nature even exists. You’ll develop excellent analytical skills as you explore these ideas through cutting-edge work in philosophy, as well as:

• feminist theory
• cognitive science
• evolutionary biology.

What does it mean to know something? Is knowledge different from mere belief? And is knowledge actually possible?

In this module, you’ll get to know the great thinkers of the past, and explore what they say about knowledge. You’ll explore the minds of:

• Plato
• Descartes
• Hume
• Locke
• Berkeley.

You also focus on key debates about knowledge today. You’ll gain fantastic analytical skills as you consider:

• the meaning of perception
• if we can know something through hearsay
• if we can know the world beyond our minds
• if there can be a scientific account of knowledge.

The aim of this module is to examine philosophical issues relating to religion.

As well as discussing traditional questions generated by monotheistic religions such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam (for example, the problem of evil and proving God’s existence), we'll examine philosophical issues generated by Buddhism relating to the self and reincarnation.

The module also considers the question of why religion has been so prevalent in human societies and looks at alternative approaches to traditional philosophy of religion as represented by Wittgenstein’s work and feminist philosophy of religion.

Explore the study and understanding of Culture and Society by looking at relevant Customs, Icons and Symbols with a particular emphasis on communicative practice of reading and written language in contexts.

In these modules, you’ll gain the practical language skills to succeed in your French degree. As someone with a beginner’s knowledge of French, you’ll develop strong skills in French speaking and writing, translating and interpreting. You’ll be able to express yourself effectively in French, and gain a critical sensitivity to the intercultural differences between France and other countries.

On this module, you'll build your sense of a criminology community through collaborating and planning a criminology newsletter. This will help you take ownership of your criminology studies.

You'll build on the skills and knowledge you gained on Creating Criminology 1, where you will have interacted with guest speakers from careers and with recent alumni. You'll get to use alumni as interviewees for your Criminology newsletter. You'll also engage with discussions for your future after university, and where you can make a positive impact with your Criminology degree.

In this module, you’ll dive into art and artists through the century. You’ll explore the Camden Town Group of painters. You’ll examine the abstract sculptures of Barbara Hepworth. And you’ll analyse the collages of Pop artists like Peter Blake. You’ll scrutinise paintings, sculptures and films. You’ll discuss how British artists tried to create modern forms of expression. And you’ll investigate the ways they promoted their work, like:

• exhibitions
• manifestos
• books
• little magazines.

You’ll participate in on-site visits, where you’ll examine works of art firsthand. You’ll also attend exciting lectures and seminars where you’ll explore your ideas and enrich your understanding of modern British art.

How has humanity changed the environment — and how has the environment changed us?

You'll explore six centuries of environmental change through the history of sustainability, conservation and resource use, from the Columbian Exchange of the late fifteenth century to the Great Acceleration of the mid-twentieth. You'll examine how environmental change has been experienced and contested at local, national and global levels, and examine the political, economic, social and cultural forces shaping the consumption of energy, food and natural resources — while also considering what history can teach us about future policy solutions.

You'll also work with diverse historical sources, from demographic and institutional records to maps and plans, and develop practical digital history skills through designing your own digital map of environmental change.

How is political opinion, authority and democracy shaped and influenced? In this module, you’ll explore foundational issues in political philosophy through exploring the main political ideologies. You’ll start your journey with Liberalism as the default position in the West since the English, American and French Revolutions. Your focus then shifts to the ideologies that arose in response to Liberalism, including:

• Conservatism
• Communism
• Fascism
• Communitarianism
• Anarchism
• and Feminism.

You’ll also consider questions linked to the theory of knowledge, such as can any ideology be rationally justified?

In these modules, you’ll gain the practical language skills to succeed in your Spanish degree. As someone with a beginner’s knowledge of Spanish, you’ll develop strong skills in Spanish speaking and writing, translating and interpreting. You’ll be able to express yourself effectively in Spanish, and gain a critical sensitivity to the intercultural differences between Spain and other countries.

You'll start an exploration of how educators can support and encourage curiosity and exploration in children, through the use of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).

You'll focus on understanding and developing teaching methods that can enhance childrens' learning. Incorporating STEAM concepts into each of these areas. You will have the chance to

• investigate
• observe
• and create opportunities for hands-on experiments and problem-based learning.

You'll also join discussions on the challenges and difficulties that may arise when implementing STEAM in different educational settings.

In this module you will examine questions about the fundamental nature of reality and explore their relevance for the rest of philosophy and beyond.

Do we have free will or are all our actions determined? What is the relationship between the mind and the body? What is causation? What makes a person the same person over time?

Through examining these questions you will become aware of your own metaphysical presuppositions and be empowered to think consistently across issues ranging from the nature of self to the structure of society.

What is social theory? Who are the major social theorists, and what do they have to say about things like power, beliefs and values, capitalism, feminism and more? In this module, you’ll explore key concepts and theories in classical and contemporary sociology. You’ll also immerse yourself in current debates, developments and approaches to social theory, and you’ll encounter theories like Marxism, postcolonialism, functionalism and more.

The world's most pressing challenges don't fit neatly into one subject or discipline. This module puts you at the heart of tackling them.

You'll choose one of two pathways. Oxford Stories explores how narratives shape people, places and communities. Curiosity and Critical Thinking examines the role of evidence and information in contemporary challenges.

Working alongside academics, fellow students and external partners, you'll engage in projects that develop critical, creative and transferable skills needed to address real-world issues. You'll learn to analyse problems, consider multiple perspectives and apply your knowledge beyond your subject area.

Through collaboration and reflection, you'll deepen your understanding of yourself, your subject and the wider contexts in which you will live and work.

The second in a series of three challenge modules running throughout the programme, Professional Development in Practice builds on your first year Why History Matters modules and helps to prepare you for life beyond graduation.

Meet the two greatest philosophers of ancient Greece, Plato and Aristotle. You’ll explore the key themes in Plato’s Republic and Artistotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, uncovering vital ethical and political issues. You’ll understand why these fascinating texts have influenced the history of philosophy.

Does anything exist outside our minds? Are our thoughts just a product of our senses? In this module, you’ll get to grips with early modern philosophy, and its core texts and ideas. In part 1, you’ll dive into Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, and gain core analytical skills as you examine his attempts to provide a firm basis for knowledge. In part 2, you’ll dig into Hume’s Treatise on Human Nature and his Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, examining his attempts to construct a theory of the workings of the human mind. You’ll also explore the Immanual Kant’s views of space and time as developed in his book The Critique of Pure Reason.

You'll explore recent social and technological developments such as:

• globalisation
• social media and the internet
• medical and scientific advances
• mass migration.

You'll look at the new ethical challenges they present that are prominent in public debate and a source of conflict and division in society. You'll analyse some of these ethical issues from a philosophical perspective.

You'll consider whether corporations have moral responsibilities, as well as the best ways to combat racism. Also, you'll examine how epistemic vices such as close-mindedness, intellectual arrogance and dogmatism are fostered by the prevalence of conspiracy theories, fake news, and testimonial injustice?

Are we right to assume that democracy is the only morally-defensible way to govern a country? Can technology and science help us to improve ourselves?

This module explores some of the philosophical issues raised by economics. Together we'll cover topics like:

• the status of economics as a social science
• the philosophy of science about what makes a discipline scientific
• the nature of causation and explanation and how they differ between the natural and the social sciences.

The foundational assumptions of economics involve broader questions about human nature, so we'll delve into the background ideas involved in decision and game theory.

When it comes to ethics and political philosophy, we'll talk about the nature of collectives, corporations and their responsibilities. You'll also have a chance to evaluate other ethical questions raised by economics like the treatment of “externalities” in economic theory and questions of value relating to human welfare and the environment.

In this module, you’ll discover science, and its role in our society. You’ll get to grips with the main philosophical questions around scientific knowledge, and the methods we use to explore it. You’ll gain core critical skills as you consider classic philosophy of science topics, and investigate some new ideas. You’ll debate topics such as:

• do the entities postulated by scientists really exist?
• can scientific theories be falsified by observation?
• is theoretical change in science a rational process?
• how much of the biological world can be explained by appeal to natural selection?
• what is the measurement problem in quantum mechanics?

The concept of wellbeing is prominent in moral and political philosophy. Outside of philosophy ordinary people are increasingly becoming concerned with their wellbeing and in the political domain the maximisation of wellbeing is often a central goal of policy makers. This module examines philosophical issues concerning wellbeing:

• Is there such a thing as wellbeing and, if so, what exactly is it?
• How is wellbeing related to happiness and pleasure?
• Can wellbeing be objectively measured and aggregated?
• How have modern social and technological developments impacted on our wellbeing?
• Can events that take place after our death contribute to our wellbeing?

What is art? What makes something beautiful? How does emotion, imagination and knowledge contribute to our understanding and appreciation of artworks?

In this module, explore these questions through aesthetics and philosophical reflection on art through interactive lectures and a visit to one of Oxford’s renowned museums or galleries.

You’ll engage with philosophical issues concerning various forms of art:

• Painting
• Photography
• Cinema
• Graffiti
• Music
• literature
• and environmental art.

You will also consider the political and sociological dimensions of such art forms.

In this module, you’ll be introduced to the basic issues in the philosophy of law. Explore questions such as ‘what is the social function of a legal system?’ through the sociological context of legal systems, as well as the different types of Western and non-Western legal systems

You’ll examine theories of punishment and their philosophical presumptions, as well as considering topics including;

• Legal positivism
• Legal realism
• Natural law theory
• Critical legal theory.

How did language - the centre of our culture, family ties and business transactions - develop? In this module, you’ll get to understand fascinating debates around language, and why philosophers have been so drawn to it throughout history. You’ll gain core critical skills, as you consider questions around:

• what language is
• whether we can study it scientifically
• the relationship between language and thought.

This module offers the opportunity to study abroad, experience a new culture, and apply your skills in different contexts to enhance your employability. It will help you develop self-management, cross-cultural communication, and interpersonal skills.

You’ll receive support to secure a place at a partner institution abroad, where you can choose modules related to your degree or explore new areas that complement your studies.

Studying at an international university will help you enhance your interpersonal skills through cross-cultural communication with students and tutors, allowing you to build lasting relationships. You'll also improve your study skills by focusing on your chosen areas of interest, gaining valuable international experience that will strengthen your CV.

This year abroad module lasts for one academic year and is taken after the conclusion of your second year of study, once you’ve completed all your level 5 studies. Your year abroad is not credit-bearing.

This module gives you the chance to do research on a topic that fascinates you. You’ll have the support of expert staff, as you critically analyse and present your research on a pressing philosophical issue. Whether you’re investigating the ethics of artificial intelligence, fake news or feminist philosophy, you’ll shape your dissertation around your passions, and gain the skills for a groundbreaking career.

How should we live? What do we owe to others? How can we respond to the ethical, political and social challenges of our time? In this final-year module, you'll draw on the knowledge, skills and experiences developed throughout your degree to confront some of the most pressing questions facing an uncertain world.

Through a combination of practical experiences, reflection and independent activity, you'll deepen your understanding of philosophy's role in contemporary society and explore how philosophical thinking can inform personal, professional and civic life. You'll develop greater self-awareness, articulate your strengths and aspirations, and build confidence in applying your knowledge beyond the classroom.

The third in a series of three modules running throughout the programme, Confronting a Challenging World provides a capstone experience that helps you consolidate your learning, showcase your skills and prepare for the opportunities and challenges beyond graduation.

This module offers you the opportunity to pursue more in-depth study of a specialist area of research or other co-curricular topic not otherwise available in modules on the course.

The content of this module is agreed between the student and their supervisor and must be approved by the module leader of the course.

In this module, you’ll dive into medieval philosophy - an unfairly neglected period in western philosophy. You’ll explore the fascinating ideas of a wide range of medieval thinkers, whose work still influences philosophy today. You’ll also gain a strong knowledge of the historical gap between ancient Greek philosophy and today.

In this module, you’ll address our relationship to the environment and the climate crisis. You’ll explore questions like:

• Is environmental activism justified?
• What is the difference between local and global activism?
• What are the methodological challenges for climate science?
• What drives climate change scepticism or denialism?

You’ll also consider Veganism, and the relation between our aesthetic appreciation of nature and environmental concerns.

The module also moves beyond the western perspective and considers Buddhist and various indigenous attitudes to the environment and our place within it.

This module explores central topics in metaethics, the philosophical study of the nature of morality and moral judgment. You will explore such issues as:

• are there objective moral facts?
• when we make a moral judgment are we making a factual claim or merely expressing our emotions or preferences?
• is morality culturally relative?
• how do our moral judgments motivate our actions.

In this module, you’ll get to know one of the liveliest areas of current research: contemporary philosophy of mind. You will explore issues such as:

• What is the relationship between the mind and the brain?
• How are our thoughts capable of being about phenomena that exist outside of the mind?
• Where is the mind located? Is it in our skulls or does it stretch beyond the outer surfaces of our bodies?
• Is consciousness a mystery or can it be explained from a scientific perspective?

A paradox involves a contradiction, or a tension. In some cases the contradiction is a logical one, and in others it is of some other kind.

These tensions, and resolving them, are the point of departure for all kinds of philosophically interesting topics:

• infinity (Zeno’s paradoxes)
• rationality (Newcomb’s problem)
• co-operation (the Prisoner’s dilemma)
• time travel (the Grandfather paradox)
• the nature of the world described by physics (the Twins paradox; Schrodinger’s cat)
• the foundations of mathematics (Russell’s paradox)
• the nature of truth and logic (the Liar, sorites, pseudo-Scotus and Curry’s paradoxes).

In this module, you’ll survey some of the most philosophically interesting paradoxes; for your own intrinsic interest, for the light that they shed on their respective philosophical topics, and as a fun application of philosophical methods and analysis.

Buddhism is one of the world’s major religions with approximately 400 million followers. It is a deeply philosophical religion that portrays human suffering as being based on a metaphysical delusion about the nature and existence of the self.

In this module, you’ll explore the central philosophical themes in Buddhist thought beginning with the account of the teachings of the Buddha in the Abhidharma. You’ll then examine philosophical work in the later Madhyamaka, Yogacara and Dignaga and Dharmakirti schools.

You’ll go on to investigate how Buddhist philosophy relates to contemporary Western concerns and can enrich our philosophical outlook and help us deal with the challenges of everyday life.

Phenomenology is the study of conscious experience and of how things appear to us. It can reveal surprising features of our own experience and tell us much about perception and the relationship between the mind and the body. This approach has dominated European philosophy since the early 20th century and we shall focus on the views of Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger and Maurice Merleau-Ponty.

Existentialism is an approach in philosophy that focuses upon exploring the human condition. Existentialists such as Sartre, Beauvoir, and Camus portray human individuals as having the capacity to make choices as to how to live their lives and thereby create their own identity. The challenge to live an authentic life is a demanding one and can generate anxiety or a sense that life is lacking in meaning. We'll examine the concept that the idea that philosophy should be a way of life rather than a detached theoretical exercise.

This module gives you the chance to do research on a topic that fascinates you. Over the course of your final year, you’ll work independently on a research project, with the help of expert supervision. Your dissertation will grow out of your specific passion, and you’ll gain excellent self-discipline and organisational skills for work. You’ll gain core skills for your career, including:

• research
• critical analysis
• time-management
• planned and focused writing.

The Independent Study Module gives you the opportunity to explore a legal topic in greater depth, working closely with an academic whose research interests align with your chosen area. It allows you to investigate issues that go beyond the taught curriculum and develop expertise in a subject that reflects your interests and future ambitions.

You'll build advanced research, analysis and academic writing skills as you engage with legal scholarship, case law and contemporary debates. Students on our named pathways complete their project within their area of specialism, providing an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and showcase their expertise.

Whether you're considering postgraduate study, legal practice or another professional path, the module enables you to pursue an area you're passionate about while developing the independent learning skills valued by employers and researchers alike.

This module is compulsory if studying one of the named pathways.