About the Faculty of Philosophy
Philosophy has a long tradition in the University, with the Moral Sciences Tripos (renamed 'Philosophy' in 1970) being taught since 1852. °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï was the birthplace of 'analytic' philosophy, and the philosophical home of Russell, Moore, Ramsey, Wittgenstein and Anscombe, as well as many other distinguished contributers to the philosophy of the twentieth century. Today the Faculty continues to be a world-class centre for philosophical research. The Philosophy Faculty admits about 15 students a year for the MPhil. They join 20-25 students studying for the PhD and MLitt to form a lively graduate community. A wide range of seminars and informal gatherings ensures that students get to know each other, making the Faculty a friendly, informal and congenial place to work. The Faculty has been extraordinarily successful in placing students in academic jobs and former students have teaching posts in universities throughout the UK and beyond (see Faculty Placement Record).
The Faculty is situated on Sidgwick Avenue, close to many of the Faculties with which is has close links, and the University Library is only 500m away. The Faculty's accommodation includes a Graduate Centre and Common Room, as well as our own Library, holding some 16,000 books and three dozen current journals.
4 courses offered in the Faculty of Philosophy
AI Ethics and Society - MSt
The M.St. in AI Ethics and Society delivers an academically rigorous part-time programme aimed at professionals from business, public, and social sectors working with applications of artificial intelligence (AI), providing the skills and expertise needed to address the ethical issues arising from the uses and impacts of AI. The programme’s administration and teaching are coordinated by the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI) and its academic standards are monitored and assured by the Degree Committee of the Faculty of Philosophy.
The Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI) is an international research institute exploring the nature and impacts of artificial intelligence (AI). CFI is part of the newly founded Institute of Technology and Humanity at the °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï. It has research networks across the world, and strong links to the policy and technologies sectors, both in the UK and internationally. CFI brings the knowledge and methodologies of multiple disciplines to the challenges of understanding the nature of AI and the ethical implications of its wide-ranging applications across sectors and society, in both the short, medium and long-term.
Ethics of AI, Data and Algorithms - MPhil - Closed
The MPhil in Ethics of AI, Data and Algorithms is a full-time 9-month course run by the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence. It equips students from a range of backgrounds with the research skills and specialist knowledge to engage critically and constructively with debates on the ethical and societal impacts of AI and other digital technologies, and provides the opportunity to carry out focused research under close supervision by domain experts at the University. Those intending to go on to doctoral work learn the research skills needed to help them prepare a well-planned and focused PhD proposal.
In addition to individual supervisions that support work on essays and dissertation, the taught elements of the course consist of core seminars, which introduce the central topics in AI and data ethics, a range of elective modules covering specialist topics, and work in progress seminars, in which students gain experience in presenting their own work and discussing the issues that arise from it with an audience of their peers and senior members of staff. Students also have the opportunity to attend lectures, research seminars and reading groups across the Centre and the wider University.
Philosophy - MPhil - Closed
This MPhil is a full-time course that introduces students to the skills needed in philosophical research. Students work with supervisors to write two research essays: the first of up to 4,000 words, the second of up to 8,000 words; and a dissertation of up to 12,000 words. Students also participate as a group in a collaborative weekly seminar, run during the first (Michaelmas) and second (Lent) terms, in which they learn presentation and discussion skills by presenting their own research and discussing presentations by other students.
Philosophy - PhD - Closed
The PhD course offers close supervision and extensive training and is the standard entrance to the academic profession. The Faculty welcomes applications for this degree in a wide range of philosophical areas. The PhD culminates in the production of a thesis of up to 80,000 words to be submitted between three and four years from the commencement of study for full-time study. The PhD may also be done part-time, in which case the deadline for completion will be a minimum of five and a maximum of seven years. An oral examination will be conducted on the subject of the thesis and the general field of knowledge within which it falls.
The PhD degree is awarded for an extended thesis that makes a substantial original contribution to learning.
1 course also advertised in the Faculty of Philosophy
Philosophy - PGCert
From the Institute of Continuing Education
The post graduate Certificate in Philosophy is a part-time Postgraduate Certificate equivalent to 60 credits at level 7. It is undertaken over one year. Students are taught a range of general and subject-specific skills and techniques.
Delivery of the course is via three Units. The Units are structured chronologically—spanning philosophical thought, ancient to modern. The Units are also developmental—discussions in subsequent Units build on and respond to themes discussed in previous Units. The units cover the following three topics: Ancient Greek Philosophy, Early Modern Philosophy and Existentialism.
