FIND OUT MORE

www.liverpool.ac.uk/study
Accommodation: www.liverpool.ac.uk/accommodation
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Student support: www.liverpool.ac.uk/studentsupport
UG enquiries and applications: T: +44 (0)151 794 5927

PHILOSOPHY
The University of Liverpool
7 Abercromby Square
Liverpool L69 7WY
T: +44 (0)151 795 0500
E: sscarts@liv.ac.uk
www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy
MEMBER OF THE RUSSELL GROUP

EB/RH JUN 2013

Philosophy
From logic to literature, from science to spirituality,
from ethics to existentialism a degree in Philosophy
at Liverpool provides the opportunity to study a
broad range of areas of the subject in a lively and
friendly environment.

Contents
Introduction to Philosophy 01
Research in context 04
An investment in your future 06
Programme details 07
Applications and admissions 13

We are unique in offering courses across a

diverse range of subjects, including eastern
and western, ancient and modern philosophies.
Our commitment to both tradition and innovation
reflects the spirit of philosophy itself.

Liverpool has philosophers that are

internationally renowned with wide-ranging
interests which include:
Ancient Philosophy
Environmental Philosophy
Ethics
History of Philosophy
Indian Philosophy
Metaphysics
Neo-Platonism
Philosophy of Language
Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy of Religion
Philosophy of Science
Political Philosophy

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of the Arts > Philosophy
www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy

01

The Department of Philosophy is an exciting

place to work and study: staff and students
together create an environment where critical,
independent thinking flourishes. Our friendly,
down-to-earth atmosphere makes the
exchange of ideas enjoyable as well as
intellectually stimulating.

WHY CHOOSE PHILOSOPHY

AT LIVERPOOL?
Quality teaching. You will be taught by
internationally recognised philosophers
with research expertise that spans most
of philosophys breadth and history. Our
teaching reflects this research excellence
and diversity of interests with a genuine
range of modules. Teaching methods include
lectures, seminars, workshops, one-to-one
tuition and on-line materials. We also include
gallery trips and other activities to stimulate
thought and discussion. Students have the
opportunity to take an exciting, well-received,
placement module.
Friendly, intellectually stimulating
environment. Recent graduates consider
the course to be intellectually stimulating and
the teaching to be interesting and enthusiastic.
The Department is committed to providing its
students with prompt and helpful feedback on
their work so that our students might reach their
academic potential. We listen and respond to
student views about their courses so that we
continually improve our offer. The Department
has a thriving and welcoming student-run
society, PHILSOC, which organises philosophical
talks, discussions and social events.

02/03

Employability. If you choose to study

Philosophy at Liverpool you will develop
your critical, creative and analytical skills
and enhance your skills in communicating in
a clear, logical and persuasive way. These skills
are very valuable when seeking and entering
graduate-level employment. Students have the
opportunity for a placement with an appropriate
partner where they can apply their academic
learning to practical contexts and develop a
range of skills attractive to future employers.

Engagement with the city. The Department

has a tradition of active engagement with the
wider life of the city of Liverpool. Students on
our programmes have the opportunity to play
a part in activities like those involved in the
Philosophy in the City project including working
with the Biennial: www.philosophyinthecity.info
Location. The Department is situated in
Liverpools Georgian quarter, close to the city
centre. It is a very short walk away from key
University facilities like the main libraries and
the Sports Centre. Other facilities within
walking distance include Bold Street, FACT,
Liverpool One, Liverpools most well-known
museums and galleries and its two famous
and impressive cathedrals.
Research expertise. Members of the
Department are actively researching and
publishing in their fields with national and
international reputations. This research activity
underpins all our taught courses and students
benefit from the expertise and enthusiasm
of staff for their subject. Our work includes
research in Ancient Philosophy; Environmental
Philosophy; Ethics and Metaphysics.

STUDY ABROAD
As part of your degree programme you may
have the opportunity to study abroad. Studying
abroad has huge personal and academic
benefits, as well as giving you a head start in
the graduate job market. Philosophy students
may currently apply to study at the University
of Crete, or with one of our many other
worldwide partners. For more information,
see www.liverpool.ac.uk/goabroad

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of the Arts > Philosophy
www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy

There is no other degree subject Id rather

do. I think if you ask a lot of questions
Philosophy is definitely for you. Every
single day is different, you always leave
a lecture asking questions and thinking
critically about the world and life in general.
We do a wide range of western philosophy
in Year One but as the years progress you
have a lot more choice about what you
want to specialise in, for example, Indian
Philosophy and Existentialism.
HOLLY MARTIN
PHILOSOPHY BA (HONS)

See what Holly had to say about

studying Philosophy at Liverpool
www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/video

Researchincontext
Philosophers raise issues about these that
others dont. For example, what is it to be
aware of something, of reading this now, say?
You might say: Its obvious: Im just looking
at these words and reading them! Thats true,
but what does this involve? You are aware of
the words that you can see on the page, but
are you also aware of you (your self) as you
read them? If you are, then what is it that youre
aware of when youre aware of your self? If you
arent, then how can you be so certain that it
is you that is doing the reading? So a certain
amount of time has passed since you started
reading this; were you aware of that? Is time
something one can be aware of? What is time
anyway; is it possible to travel in it? What would
be the differences between travel in time and
travel in space? Is the past different from the
future? Are future things real in the same way
as present or past things? Is the future fixed
and settled in the same way as the past?

04/05

Professor Daintons work deals with these and

related questions. It touches on work in other
disciplines, especially psychology and physics,
but remains philosophical in its focus on the
concepts and presuppositions (about time,
space, consciousness and self) at play in
them as much as in everyday life.

His articles and books Stream of

Consciousness (2000), Time and Space
(2001) The Phenomenal Self (2008) are
widely recognised to be at the forefront of
philosophical discussion of these issues.
Professor Dainton also reviews regularly for
the Times Literary Supplement; he has served
on the national executive of the Aristotelian
Society, and in 2006 was a visiting fellow at
the Centre for Consciousness at the Australian
National University, Canberra; in recent years
he has been invited to give talks on his work
in Atlanta, Berkeley, Berlin, Geneva, Harvard,
Jerusalem, Oxford, San Francisco and Sydney.
In 2010, he held an invited fellowship at the
Advanced Institute for Humanities at the
University of Durham. He has recently produced
an expanded second edition of Time and
Space (2010), a substantial entry on temporal
consciousness for the Stanford Encyclopedia
of Philosophy, and written a new appendix
(Malevolent Alien Zombies and the Survivability
of Psychological Transformations) for the
paperback edition of The Phenomenal Self.
He has long been intrigued by the notion that
we might all be living in an advanced computer
simulation, and has written on this topic in
a chapter in the collection Philosophy and
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (2012).

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of the Arts > Philosophy
www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy

During the interview for my current position the

interviewer was impressed that I had studied
logic extensively as part of my Philosophy degree
at Liverpool. Working in a fast-paced editorial
department means that I have to quickly
identify, analyse and evaluate arguments on a
daily basis. Studying Philosophy at Liverpool
equipped me perfectly for the role. When it came
to presenting my ideas to the board of directors
I was, again, more than prepared. Whilst
studying Philosophy at Liverpool I was
constantly pushed to develop and present my
own arguments and evaluate those of others.
MARK MOREAU
PHILOSOPHY BA (HONS), 2009
DEVELOPMENT EDITOR, EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING

Graduate
Profile

People often ask What is Philosophy? Some say

Its an inquiry into the meaning of Life, The Universe
and Everything. But what does that mean? Its better
to start with more down-to-earth things.

Aninvestment
inyourfuture
Employers value the general and widely applicable
analytical, argumentative and problem-solving
abilities Philosophy students acquire. This Department
adds a commitment to literacy in Information and
Communication Technology.
QUALIFYING YOU FOR LIFE
Transferable skills fostered through the study
of Philosophy include:
Communication
Creative, critical and independent thinking
Flexibility
Logical thinking
Problem-solving techniques
Self-motivation
Time and priority management

CAREER PROSPECTS

06/07

Employers value the general and widely

applicable analytical, argumentative,
communication and problem-solving skills
developed by studying Philosophy. The
Department is noted for its innovative use
of Information Technology.

Graduates in Philosophy obtain work

in such fields as advertising, the arts,
broadcasting, commerce, the Civil Service,
computing, journalism, marketing, politics,
law, management and teaching.

Prog ammedetails
Degrees at a Glance

UCAS code

Length (Years)

Page

Philosophy BA (Hons)

V500

08

Mathematics and Philosophy BA (Joint Hons)

GV15

10

Degrees offered in conjunction with Law

Law with Philosophy LLB (Hons)

M107

12

This subject can be taken as part of a Combined Honours degree.

See www.liverpool.ac.uk/combined-honours for further details.
This subject is available as part of the Honours Select curriculum as either
100% (Single Honours), 75% (Major), 50% (Joint Honours) or 25% (Minor) as indicated.
See www.liverpool.ac.uk/honours-select for further details and UCAS codes for
Joint and Minor pathways.
Entrance Requirements
See www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses for current entrance requirements.

RECENT EMPLOYERS
Allied Healthcare Group
Barnardos
Direct Line Insurance
Foxtons
GE Capital Bank
Hazeldene Foods Ltd

POSTGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES
Four taught programmes are all available
both full and part time: MA in Philosophy,
MA in Art, Aesthetics, and Cultural Institutions
(delivered in partnership with the Tate gallery),
MA in Philosophy as a Way of Life, and the
MA in Metaphysics, Mind and Language.
There are also opportunities to undertake
research degrees.

HOW YOU LEARN

In studying philosophy you will learn how
to defend your views with reasoned arguments,
and to assess the arguments of others.
Argumentative skills are learned by example
through attending lectures and reading
philosophical texts, developed by group
seminar discussions, and formally assessed
through essays and exams. Students complete
modules to the value of 120 credits per year,
from a wide range of options available.
Most modules employ a blend of lectures,
seminars and online support materials. Students
learn by reading and studying outside class
time, by attending and participating in classes,
by doing coursework and, for dissertations,
via one-to-one meetings with their supervisor.

WHICH DEGREE
A good degree is a great start to a successful
career. Studying Philosophy will help you to
be able to construct and assess arguments, to
consider issues from a variety of perspectives
and to engage in debate in a respectful and
dispassionate manner. These skills are useful
not only in terms of your career: they can
influence how you conduct your personal life.
Whether you choose to combine Philosophy
with another subject, or study it by itself, you
will find that many employers value the skills
associated with being a Philosophy graduate.

HONOURS SELECT
From 2014, the Faculty of Humanities and
Social Sciences is offering a new, innovative
way to study.

There is also scope, both formally in the

Placement Module and informally, for students
to develop practical skills by volunteering.
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of the Arts > Philosophy
www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy

For current entrance requirements and full

module details, see www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/
undergraduate/courses

We are offering a much wider range of Joint

(50:50) degrees across the Faculty. In addition,
we are giving you the option to study two
subjects on a 75:25 basis, focusing 75%
of your time on your Major subject and
25% of your time on your Minor. See
www.liverpool.ac.uk/honours-select
or the separate Honours Select booklet
for further details.
Subjects which combine particularly well
with Philosophy include:
Politics
English
History

Philosophy BA (Hons)
UCAS code: V500
Programme length: 3 years
Choose this degree if you are looking for
a stimulating introduction to a wide range
of philosophical theories, concepts and
controversies. Here, you will learn how to
develop your critical and analytical abilities
so as to understand and discuss Philosophy.
Through reading, understanding and discussing
texts from a range of ancient, modern and
contemporary sources, you will be provided
with a sound grasp of ideas from the history
of Philosophy, as well as an understanding
of contemporary philosophical debates.

PROGRAMME CONTENT
By the end of this programme, you will be able
to understand complex and demanding texts,
reason intelligently and imaginatively about
ethical, metaphysical and epistemological
issues, and have a grasp of the advantages
and problems of a wide range of metaphysical
and moral views.
Topics covered include: Aesthetics,
Epistemology, History of Philosophy, Logic,
Metaphysics, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy
of Religion, and Political Philosophy. If you are
curious about philosophical thought outside
mainstream Western traditions, you can
choose to study modules on Existentialism
and on Indian Philosophy.

Symbolic Logic 2
Theory of Knowledge
Philosophy of Religion
Themes in Political Philosophy
Metaphysics
Early Modern Philosophy
Plato and Aristotle
Moral Philosophy

Year Three

The programme includes a compulsory formal

logic component, and you have the option
to complete a 10,000 word dissertation on a
philosophical topic of your choice in Year Three.

8 modules (120 CATS points)

In Year Three, students choose modules
from the Year Three programme listed below.
Some of these are double-credit modules.
All students will have the option of undertaking
a dissertation (10,000 words) on a topic of
their choosing. The dissertation presents
an opportunity for an in-depth study of an
area of particular interest.

Year One

Modules:

8 modules (120 CATS points)

Core modules:
Ethics
Political Philosophy
Mind, Knowledge and Reality
Reading and Writing Philosophy 1
Reading and Writing Philosophy 2
Reason and Argument
Philosophy and the Arts
Symbolic Logic 1

Year Two
8 modules (120 CATS points)
In Year Two students choose modules
from the Year Two programme listed below.
Some of these are double-credit modules.

08/09

Modules:

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of the Arts > Philosophy
www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy

Final Year Dissertation

Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy of Language
Aesthetics
Indian Philosophy
Philosophy and Spirituality
Existentialism
Philosophy and Literature
Symbolic Logic 3
Philosophical Approaches to Conflict

Philosophy
Philosophy goes well with every subject, for the
simple reason that philosophy touches every
subject, in inquiring into its nature, methods,
and boundaries. Also, some particular aspects
of philosophy the theory of knowledge,
for example are relevant to every subject.
Philosophy presents a theoretical contrast
to practical or vocational subjects, and allows
the student the opportunity to look deeper into
the presuppositions of a theoretical subject.

PROGRAMME CONTENT
Students take four Philosophy modules each
year, two in each semester. In Year One, these
modules are foundational, and it is compulsory
to take the two seminar modules, Reading
and Writing Philosophy 1 and Reading and
Writing Philosophy 2, which introduce the
student to detailed interaction with a classic
or contemporary philosophical text. Students
are also required in these two modules to give
brief prepared responses to these texts in front
of an audience of their peers, which enables
them to develop both organisation and
presentational skills.

These subjects are available as part

of our HONOURS SELECT programme.
Choose from over 30 subjects to create
your perfect Joint or Major / Minor Honours
Degree. See www.liverpool.ac.uk/
honours-select for further details.

This subject can be taken as part

of a Combined Honours degree. See
www.liverpool.ac.uk/combined-honours
for further details.

For current entrance requirements and full

module details, see www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/
undergraduate/courses

In Years Two and Three there is a wide choice of

modules dealing with philosophical questions,
such as theory of knowledge or philosophy of
mind, and of modules discussing particular
philosophers or philosophical movements,
such as existentialism and Indian philosophy.

Philosophy
Philosophy as a Minor allows the student
to reflect on some of the theoretical issues
raised by the chosen Major. Since every
subject has theoretical and philosophical
underpinnings, Philosophy fits well as a Minor
to every Major, and, since no special skills
(over and above the capacity for abstract
and rational thought) are needed, Philosophy
will be an ideal complement to any Major
across the humanities and social sciences.

PROGRAMME CONTENT
Students take two Philosophy modules
each year, one in each semester. In every year
the student may select the most appropriate
modules from a wide choice dealing with
philosophical questions, such as theory of
knowledge or philosophy of mind, or discussing
particular philosophers or philosophical
movements, such as existentialism or Indian
philosophy. The dissertation module, together
with the Reading and Writing Philosophy
modules, are not taken by Minor students.

10/11

These subjects are available as part

of our HONOURS SELECT programme.
Choose from over 30 subjects to create
your perfect Joint or Major / Minor Honours
Degree. See www.liverpool.ac.uk/
honours-select for further details.

Mathematics and
Philosophy BA (Joint Hons)
UCAS code: GV15
Programme length: 3 years
For those who enjoy not only doing
mathematics but also thinking about what it
is that theyre doing, a degree in Mathematics
and Philosophy provides an ideal combination.
Questions about the nature of mathematics,
such as, What are numbers, and how can
we know about them? lead directly to some
of the central questions of philosophy.
Philosophy has also had an influence on
mathematics. For example, philosophical
worries about the foundations of mathematics
led to the development of mathematical logic
as a branch of mathematics. No wonder,
then, that some of the greatest philosophers
(for example, Descartes, Leibniz, Frege and
Russell) have been mathematicians too.

Year One
Students take four modules from the
Philosophy Year One programme.
Philosophy modules:
Reading and Writing Philosophy 1
Reading and Writing Philosophy 2
Reason and Argument
Symbolic Logic 1
Students take the core foundation modules
from the Mathematics Year One programme:
Foundation Module I: Calculus
Foundation Module II: Complex Numbers
and Linear Algebra
Foundation Module III: Multivariable Calculus
And one of the following:
Numbers, Groups and Codes
Mathematical Reasoning and
Problem Solving

Year Two
PROGRAMME CONTENT
This programme allows you to study
Mathematics and Philosophy in equal
amounts over three years. In Philosophy,
you will learn how to understand complex
and demanding texts, and to recognise
good and bad arguments. The Philosophy
component of the degree course includes
modules in logic, the formal study of
reasoning, in which you will learn how to
assess arguments and construct proofs.
In Mathematics, the core first-year modules
introduce fundamental ideas, and are designed
to bridge the gap between previous study
and university. In subsequent years, you will
generally take four modules in Mathematics
each year, choosing either to specialise or
to continue to study a broad range of topics.
This programme allows you the flexibility
to transfer, if you wish, to Single Honours
in Philosophy or in Pure Mathematics.

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of the Arts > Philosophy
www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy

Students choose modules to the value of

four units from the Philosophy Year Two
programme and four from Mathematics.
Philosophy modules:
Symbolic Logic 2
Theory of Knowledge
Philosophy of Religion
Themes in Political Philosophy
Metaphysics
Early Modern Philosophy
Plato and Aristotle
Moral Philosophy

Mathematics Modules:
Ordinary Differential Equations
Group Project Module
Iteration and Fourier Series
Complex Functions
Groups, Linear Algebra and Geometry
Rings, Fields and Combinatorics
Geometry of Curves
Introduction to the Methods
of Applied Mathematics
Vector Calculus with Applications
in Fluid Mechanics
Mathematical Models of Non-Physical
Systems
Numerical Analysis, Solutions
of Linear Equations
Introduction to Methods of Operational
Research

Year Three
Students choose modules to the value of
four units from the Philosophy Year Three
programme and four Mathematics modules.
Students may choose to undertake a project
as one of the Mathematics options this
may be on a topic related to Philosophy.
Philosophy modules:
Final Year Dissertation
Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy of Language
Aesthetics
Philosophy and Literature
Indian Philosophy
Philosophy and Spirituality
Existentialism
Symbolic Logic 3
Philosophical Approaches to Conflict

For current entrance requirements and full

module details, see www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/
undergraduate/courses

Mathematics modules:
History of Mathematics
Riemann Surfaces
Metric Spaces and Topology
Number Theory
Group Theory
Combinatorics
Project in Pure Mathematics
Chaos Theory
Further Methods of Applied Mathematics
Mathematical Models of Continuum
Mechanics
Quantum Mechanics
Relativity
Introduction to Modern Particle Physics
Non-Physical Applications 1
(Mathematical Economics)
Non-Physical Applications 2 (Population
Dynamics)
Mathematical Modelling Projects
Mathematical Essay
Theory of Statistical Inference
Linear Statistical Models
Networks in Theory and Practice

Degrees offered with

other Departments
Law with Philosophy LLB (Hons)
UCAS code: M107
Programme length: 3 years
This attractive programme enables students
to study the core modules required to obtain
a Qualifying Law Degree combined with
complementary Philosophy modules in
Ethics and Political Philosophy.

PROGRAMME CONTENT
Optional modules on the Law side allow
students to pursue more specialist legal
topics such as Human Rights, Medical
Law or Jurisprudence. Studying these two
intellectually cognate fields together will also
create opportunities for students to carry
insights from one discipline to the other
on issues such as conflict resolution.
For more information on this programme, see
www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/
brochure to view the Law brochure.

Applications
and admissions
We welcome applications from all over the
world, and its our aim to make the process
of applying as smooth as possible.
The information that follows is a brief guide
to applying for programmes of study at the
University of Liverpool. For full details of our
applications and admissions policy, please
visit our website at www.liverpool.ac.uk/
ug-admissions

MAKING AN APPLICATION
THROUGH UCAS
Applications for full-time undergraduate
study are made via UCAS, the Universities and
Colleges Admissions Service, using UCASs
online application system at www.ucas.com
The University of Liverpool institution code
is LVRPL L41.

WHEN TO MAKE YOUR APPLICATION

For up-to-date information please visit
www.ucas.com

For information on English language entry

requirements, visit www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/
international/countries/english-language or
contact Student Recruitment and Admissions
T: +44 (0)151 794 6730 E: irro@liverpool.ac.uk
ask.liv.ac.uk/help/undergraduate

MATURE STUDENTS
We welcome applications from candidates
who are not applying directly from school
or college, or who have non-standard
qualifications, or who wish work or life
experience to be taken into account as part
of their application. For further information
see www.liverpool.ac.uk/maturestudents

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

We give equal consideration to all applicants
and welcome applications from students
with disabilities. Please contact the Disability
Support Team on T: +44 (0)151 794 5117
to discuss your support needs before you
submit your UCAS application.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
For full details on the programmes we offer
and detailed entrance requirements, visit
www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/undergraduate

12/13

We accept a wide range of other

qualifications, eg EU and international
qualifications. For more detailed information
on entrance requirements, see our online
prospectus www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/
undergraduate/courses

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences >

School of the Arts > Philosophy
www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy

For current entrance requirements and full

module details, see www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/
undergraduate/courses

DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY

The University of Liverpool attaches the
greatest importance to its policies and activities
to promote diversity and equality of opportunity.
Full details on these policies can be found online
at www.liverpool.ac.uk/diversity-and-equality

DISCLAIMER
Every effort has been made to ensure that
information contained within this brochure
is accurate at the time of going to press.
However, the matters covered are subject
to change from time to time, both before
and after a candidates admission.