Philosophy
| Degree: | Master of Arts in Philosophy |
|---|---|
| Mode of Study: | Full-time, part-time |
| Duration: | 1 year (2 years in part-time study) |
| Start date: | September, February |
| Language of instruction: | English and Dutch |
| Location: | Leiden |
| Croho/isat code: | 60822 |
The MA programme in Philosophy is characterised by a firm integration of historical and systematic approaches in philosophy and an emphasis on studying primary philosophical texts. This constantly links both historical scholarship and current philosophical debates.
The programme offers three specialisations.
Programme
You will follow three courses, and also complete a supervised literature study and a master’s thesis. At least two of the courses are directly related to the chosen specialist field. The choice can be made from a wide range of MA seminars, the subjects of which vary each year. Assessment is normally based on class presentations and an end-of-term paper.
Philosophy offers three fields of focus:
- History and Philosophy of Science: You will investigate the ways in which philosophy, history, and science interact in the field of humanities. For instance, philosophy is shaped by the contemplation of its history — hence students will acquire both philosophical and historical skills. But there is more: cutting edge philosophy exists through the interaction with mathematics, physics, biology and cognitive science, in addition to linguistics, history, and literary theory.
- Ethics and Politics: The central topic of Ethics and Politics concerns moral, political and social philosophy. This course aims at a thorough philosophical reflection on the fundamental normative principles of individual action and human society. You will focus particularly on the intersection between normative philosophy and other disciplines, such as neuroscience, psychology, the social sciences and law. In addition, courses are offered on ‘meta questions’ relating to the nature and the status of normative discourse and practices.
- Philosophical Anthropology and Philosophy of Culture: What are human beings? What is their position in nature at large? Is there a principle that sets humans apart from other beings? What is their provenance and destiny? Can humans be properly studied through natural sciences, or is a special type of enquiry called for? Are disciplines such as humanities, psychology and cultural studies conceptually contiguous with natural sciences? These are some of the questions raised in the field of philosophical anthropology, and in the adjacent disciplines of philosophy of mind, culture and technology.
For the most up-to-date course overview, see the e-Prospectus
