Course description
Course description
Within our Philosophy courses we aim to teach you about other people's ideas and to develop your own. Learning about the major debates in the history of philosophy until the present day is essential background for developing your own responses to the problems in philosophy. However, what is more important is that you have engaged critically with the problems and some of the main attempts to solve those problems. One of the key things you have to learn is how to back up your claims with coherent persuasive arguments. We aim for students to develop the incredibly useful skills of deep analytical critical thinking, reasoned argument and clear systematic expression of ideas. You will learn that there is more than one point of view on every question. This is a structured, yet flexible programme, informed by current research, that aims to give you in-depth knowledge of some central areas of Western analytical philosophy; and enable you to develop the ability to evaluate, and think through for yourself, philosophical arguments and positions. The distinctive feature of Manchester's Philosophy programme is its analytical spine. Having covered some central areas of analytical philosophy at Level 1 (including logic, epistemology and the philosophy of the mind), you are then well equipped to cover more specialist course units at Levels 2 and 3. Options include course units in ethics, metaphysics, the philosophy of language and the history of philosophy.
Course content for year 1
The empasis is on giving you a proper grounding and in the first year all Philosophy course units are compulsory. You take introductory course units in: Morality and values; Knowledge and Reality; Critical Thinking; Logic; Mind and Language; and Ancient Philosophy. In addition you also have a free choice of any course unit other than Philosophy.
Course content for year 2
In Year 2 you must take two of the following three analytical course units: Locke, Berkeley and Hume; or 20th Century Analytical Philosophy; or Philosophy of the mind. In addition, you must take 80 credits from a list of course units approved by 'Philosophy' (at least 60 credits of which must be in philosophy).
Course content for year 3
In the final year you undertake a substantial, independant piece of research on a topic of your choosing, which leads to a dissertation of 6-7,000 words. In addition you must take one of the following three course units: Metaphysics; Philosophy of Language; or Issues in Epistemology. Also you will take a 'special author' course unit, covering the works of a particular philosopher from a choice which may include, Aristole, Heidegger, Spinoza, Wittgenstein or Sartre. You are then able to choose a further 60 optional credits from a list of course units approved by 'Philosophy' (at least 40 credits of which must be in Philosophy).
Career opportunities
The intellectual and analytical skills you acquire equip you for a wide range of careers. Many graduates have gone on to work in journalism, the law, government, publishing, social work, local government, and management and financial consultancy.
