PHILOSOPHY - Oxford Brookes University - Department of History

PHILOSOPHY
BA (Hons) or BA/BSc (Hons) combined

Tom Stanley has just completed a BA in Philosophy at Oxford Brookes.
If you’re interested in philosophy then definitely come to Brookes. Oxford is a fantastic place to go to
university. The lecturers are really helpful if you ever have a problem; you just go and ask and they’ll
always put aside time for you. If they can’t at that moment they’ll always give you a time and an
appointment.
The Brookes library services are brilliant, and you can also access the Bodleian Library which is
amazing. They hold a copy of every single book published in Britain for the past 400 years, at least.
For more student profiles visit www.history.brookes.ac.uk

WHY
STUDY
PHILOSOPHY?
Philosophy explores the way we think and reason,
questioning the assumptions that underpin what we think
we know about ourselves and the world.
Contents
1 Why study Philosophy? 2 Why choose Oxford Brookes?
4 Teaching and learning 5 Research and expertise 6 Student profile
7 Career choices 8 Course structure 9 Student profile 10 Modules
13 Key facts
1

WHY
CHOOSE
OXFORD
BROOKES?
The Philosophy degree programme at Oxford Brookes enables you to tackle some
of the most exciting and fundamental questions about human nature and our place
in the world and to gain a comprehensive understanding of the history of philosophy
and contemporary philosophical debates.
Distinctive features
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Choice of single or combined honours
Internationally recognised course
tutors
First rate facilities
Philosophy Society run by students
Opportunity for study abroad
Established reputation
One of the world’s great academic cities, Oxford
is a key centre of debate, with conferences,
seminars and forums taking place across
education, science, the arts and many other
subjects. Oxford Brookes students are eligible
to join the Oxford Union, famous for its debates
and illustrious speakers, from international
politicians and leaders to sportsmen and other
celebrities.
Student choice
As a student in Oxford you’ll be at the heart
of the UK’s most successful economic region
and in a centre for leading industries which will
provide you with a host of work placement and
other learning opportunities.
Study abroad
There are opportunities to study abroad for one
or two semesters in Europe, the United States,
Canada or Australia.
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Support
Throughout your time at Brookes you will
receive excellent support from our dedicated
staff, both academically and personally. You
will be allocated an Academic Adviser when
you start who will provide academic and
departmental support for you throughout your
studies. In addition, our Student Support Coordinators
are there to help you in all aspects of
your academic career, from module choices to
any personal issues you may experience.
We want your time at Brookes to be as
enjoyable and successful as possible. That’s
why we provide all the facilities you need to be
relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your
studies.
Resources
With over half a million books, DVDs and
CDs, a vast range of databases, e-journals
and reference materials, the library provides
all the resources you need for your study of
Philosophy.
You can also take advantage of the Library
Electronic Information Network (LEIN), giving
you access to a range of biographical searching
tools, databases and electronic journals. Once
you reach the stage of writing your dissertation
you will have access to Oxford’s Bodleian
Library.
We have a dedicated Philosophy librarian on
hand to answer your enquiries, teach you
information skills and guide you around the
electronic resources. The library also offers
regular training sessions on accessing and
making the best use of key resources in your
specific subject area.
Through our Upgrade service we offer advice
on all aspects of study, from planning and
writing essays to statistical analysis, either in
a one to one situation or as a drop-in session.
Upgrade is a free service available to all
students at any level, and is unique to Oxford
Brookes.
www.brookes.ac.uk/services/upgrade
3

TEACHING
AND
LEARNING
You can take Philosophy either as a single honours degree or in combination with
another subject. Popular combinations include Religion and Theology, Psychology,
English studies, Mathematics, Anthropology and Film Studies.
Teaching
Philosophy is taught by a team of dedicated
and enthusiastic philosophers, including some
of the leading researchers in their field, all are
passionate about their subject and supporting
students in their learning. We use a range of
methods to communicate with our students
including:
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lectures
group discussions
seminars
online discussions
In your final year you can undertake your own
research for your degree. Assessment takes a
range of forms including written coursework,
examinations and oral presentations.
The course is composed of modules which
will introduce you to a variety of disciplinary
concepts and research interests in philosophy.
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RESEARCH
AND
EXPERTISE
All members of the philosophy teaching team are research active and their research fully
informs their teaching. This guarantees that you will have an exciting learning experience
that keeps you fully informed of cutting-edge developments in the discipline.
Staff research
All our lecturers are published and are active
in many research and consultancy projects.
Particular areas of research strength include:
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philosophy of mind and action
ethics
history of philosophy
philosophy of biology
epistemology
philosophy of religion
The programme is designed to help you develop
your own research skills that can be fully utilised in
the Independent Study Module and Dissertation.
Will I get involved?
We value research highly and actively
encourage you to become a researcher in
your own right. By designing and undertaking
your own research you will develop excellent
analytical and and independent study skills,
adding weight to your CV.
75%
of our philosophy
research was
judged to be of
an internationally
recognised standard
RAE 2008
5

Siobhan Klaus studied Philosophy with the Department of History, Philosophy and Religion.
I was initially attracted to the study of philosophy having read and enjoyed philosophy texts. I realised
early on in my degree that the skills you gain when studying philosophy, such as being able to reason
effectively and analyse arguments, are skills which are widely applicable.
I chose Oxford Brookes for several reasons: I liked the philosophy department here as it is quite small
and close-knit so you get to know people well, and I wanted to live in an inspiring place like Oxford.
Something I’ve enjoyed during my studies has been the Philosophy Society at Brookes, which hosts
guest speakers and encourages students to give talks.
For more student profiles visit www.history.brookes.ac.uk
6

CAREER
CHOICES
Studying philosophy will help you to develop reasoning and communication skills that
are highly prized by employers.
Career prospects
Philosophy graduates from Oxford Brookes
have proven ability in communicating with
clarity, research and critical analysis, working
in teams and thinking independently. These
interdisciplinary skills are necessary to succeed
in the workplace and in postgraduate study.
Philosophy graduates work in a wide range of
sectors including journalism and the media, the
civil and diplomatic services, law, marketing,
computing, management consultancy and
counselling.
One key feature of the Oxford Brookes
Philosophy programme is that it builds
specialised sessions on employability into core
modules at first, second and third year levels.
Our Careers and Employment Centre is on
hand throughout your time at Oxford Brookes,
guiding your development from undergraduate
to professional. An invaluable resource to all
students, the Centre provides a wealth of
information throughout your studies, from career
guidance and advice, to application procedures
and practical interview skills.
www.brookescareerscentre.co.uk
7

COURSE
STRUCTURE
By taking a range of specially designed modules, you will grapple with the thoughts of
the great thinkers from Plato to Wittgenstein and examine cutting-edge contemporary
developments in the subject in areas ranging from the philosophy of mind to ethics. But
above all, you will learn to think for yourself in a friendly and supportive environment.
Year 1
You will be introduced to the field of Philosophy
through a range of foundation modules on
which to devleop further study:
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Introduction to Philosophy
Academic Literacy: Philosophy
Introduction to Ethics
Theory of Knowledge
Years 2 and 3
Independent Study in Philosophy
In your second or third year you can take a
single advanced module designed to develop
independent learning skills and to enable you
to build upon your knowledge and disciplinary
skills in the philosophy field.
You will carry out an individual project and
must negotiate an overall programme plan
and method of assessment with an appointed
supervisor.
The flexibility of our modular course means
that you can tailor your second and third years
around your interests. Modules include:
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Ancient Greek Philosophy
Early Modern Philosophy
Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy of Religion
Philosophy of Language
Metaethics
8

Annie Webster is in her final year of studying Philosophy as a single honours.
Oxford is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited and there is always so much going on
here academically. You have access to all the amazing museums, a chance to study in the Bodleian
library and interesting scholars and doctors are passing through Oxford all the time to give talks that
everyone is welcome to attend. I couldn’t think of a better place to study philosophy.
I particularly like the content of the Philosophy course at Brookes. I have covered philosophy of mind,
language, science, religion, action, knowledge, ethics and metaphysics from the Ancient Greeks to
the Early Moderns. I am studying this one core subject, Philosophy, however I get to learn about all
these other topics that surround it as well.
My lecturers are excellent. I can talk to them about anything, from serious problems I am having
with essays, to just chatting about philosophical problems and ideas that I have come across in my
studies. The course would not have been so inspiring and fascinating without them!
For more student profiles visit www.history.brookes.ac.uk
9

MODULES
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All our courses are reviewed regularly to ensure
that they respond to developments in the
subject area as well as the needs of employers.
The list below is indicative of the range of
modules that we expect to be available.
YEAR 1
Introduction to Philosophy
Provides an overview of the discipline as a
whole by introducing you to problems from each
of the main branches of philosophy. The module
will focus on the examination of a collection of
issues from epistemology, philosophy of mind,
metaphysics and ethics. The course stands
alone but can be considered as the primary
foundation from which to begin a deeper study
of philosophy.
Academic Literacy
Provides you with the basic tools that you
need in order to study philosophy effectively
in a university context. These tools include
the understanding of a series of basic
philosophical concepts that are presupposed
in much philosophical debate. The tools also
include the ability to read philosophy, identify
a philosophical question, and construct and
evaluate a philosophical argument.
Introduction to Ethics
The purpose of this module is to get you
thinking in a systematic and structured fashion
about ethical matters. The primary focus will be
normative ethics, as distinct from both applied
ethics and metaethics. Three different normative
theories will be considered and critically
assessed.
Theory of Knowledge
Examines fundamental questions about
knowledge: what exactly is knowledge?; is
perception the only source of knowledge?; is
it possible to gain knowledge of what another
person is thinking or how they are feeling?
YEARS 2 AND 3
Ancient Greek Philosophy
This double module is designed to introduce
you to the two greatest philosophers of ancient
Greece, Plato and Aristotle. The focus is on
ethical and political themes in Plato's Republic
and Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. Apart from
their intrinsic interest, these texts are among the
most influential in the history of philosophy.
Early Modern Philosophy
A double module that introduces you to
representative texts from the early modern
period. The module is divided roughly into two

parts, the first being devoted to Descartes'
Meditations on First Philosophy, the second
to Hume's Enquiries concerning Human
Understanding.
The Philosophy of Religion
The module engages with the central issues
that religion raises for philosophy. While the
focus will be on the Western tradition of
thought, the module will address the question
of defining religion and situate western themes
in the philosophy of religion in relation to world
religions. Issues such as the existence of God,
the rationality of belief, the problem of evil, and
the special character of religious language will
be examined.
Culture, Gender and Sexuality
Explores the relationship between issues of
gender, sexuality and culture as key factors in
human identity, development and society. It
critiques traditional and static understandings
of gender and sexuality, drawing on the insights
of a diversity of disciplines including gender
studies, critical theory, queer theory, feminist
philosophy and feminist criticism.
Philosophy of Science
Introduces you to some of the leading figures
and issues in the philosophy of science. The
work of Popper, Kuhn and Feyerabend will be
discussed. A background theme throughout the
module is the realist dispute in science, i.e., the
question concerning whether mature scientific
theories ought to be seen as providing a literally
true representation of (some aspect of) the
world, or whether they should be taken in an
anti-realist sense, say as mere instruments of
prediction and control of phenomena.
Philosophy of Language
An introduction to one of the dominant
contemporary traditions in philosophy. The
Anglo-American analytic tradition places great
emphasis upon understanding how language
works. The aim of this module is to provide
you with a grounding in the basic approaches
to meaning and reference. The import of these
theories for other areas of philosophy will also
be explored.
Hellenistic Philosophy
In ancient Greece philosophy was thought to
be more than simply a discipline of academic
interest. Many philosophers saw themselves as
analogous to physicians. If physicians treat and
heal the body, the work of the philosopher was
to provide comparable therapy for the soul. This
view was common to Aristotle, the Epicureans,
the Sceptics and the Stoics. This module is
designed to introduce you to this philosophical
tradition and the work of its proponents.
Metaethics
The module is devoted to the sustained and
detailed exploration of a topic introduced in the
compulsory Introduction to Philosophy, namely,
the realism vs. non-cognitivism dispute in metaethics.
The implications of meta-ethical theories
for normative ethics will also be explored.
This module relates to elements of virtually all
of the earlier modules, and can be seen as
the culmination of the undergraduate degree
course.
Philosophy of Mind
Introduces students to one of the liveliest areas
of current research, contemporary philosophy
of mind. Much current work in the field is
devoted to the task of explaining how mental
phenomena can be accommodated within a
physicalist framework. The leading assumption
of this module is a commitment to ‘minimal
physicalism’ - the view that mental phenomena
supervene upon the physical.
Special Topics in Philosophy
Designed to hone the reading and oral
presentation skills of honours students. This is
predominantly a student-led module. Students
present seminar papers on classic philosophical
works - either journal articles or chapters from
seminal monographs – and students assess
each other’s presentations. There is no fixed set
of topics, articles or monographs. Topics and
works change to match the current state of the
discipline
Medieval Philosophy
Introduces you to an unfairly neglected period
in the history of western philosophy and to
the extremely high quality work produced in
this period by a variety of thinkers, work that
continues to attract current interest. It is also
11

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designed to provide you with the means of filling
in the historical gap between ancient Greek
philosophy and the modern period.
Foundations of German Idealism
The module will introduce you to perhaps the
most influential work in the history of modern
philosophy, Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason.
You will explore Kant’s striking new claims in
both epistemology and metaphysics, claims
whose implications extend into such diverse
areas as the philosophy of science, ethics,
cosmology and theology. This module focuses
on the reasoning behind Kant’s ‘Copernican
Revolution’.
Wittgesntein’s Later Philosophy
Examines the later work of Ludwig Wittgenstein,
one of the most influential and controversial
philosophers of the twentieth century. Particular
emphasis is placed upon his views on the
nature of philosophy and of language and mind
and how these undermine widely help positions
in contemporary philosophy.
Independent Study in Philosophy
Designed to develop independent learning
skills and to enable you to build upon your
knowledge and disciplinary skills. You will carry
out individual projects and must negotiate
an overall programme plan and method of
assessment with an appointed supervisor.
Philosophy Interdisciplinary Dissertation
A critical investigation and written presentation
of a topic, theme or issue, selected by the
student and relevant to the field of Philosophy.
Philosophy Dissertation (Double Module)
An extended critical investigation and written
presentation of a topic, theme or issue,
selected by the student and relevant to the field
of Philosophy.
Continental Philosophy of Religion
This module introduces you to some of the key
thinkers in Continental Philosophy through a
discussion of the concept of God. Beginning
with ‘the masters of suspicion’ (Nietzsche,
Marx and Freud), the course will proceed to
consider different responses to the critique of
God and religion. Attention will be paid to those
like Sartre who suggest the death of God is
necessary for human freedom, and to those like
Kierkegaard, Irigaray and Kristeva who suggest
different ways of approaching the divine for
modern religious thinking.
Freedom, Justice and the Community
This module examines the key political
concepts of freedom, justice and the
community taking account of the affiliated
concepts of rights and equality. In considering
these concepts differing theoretical treatments
of them will be related to the roles they play
in the practical world of politics. Liberal,
radical, feminist and communitarian theoretical
standpoints are analysed.

KEY
FACTS
DURATION
Full time:
3 years
Part time:
Up to 6 years
HOW TO APPLY
Application is
through UCAS. See
our website for course
codes.
TYPICAL OFFERS
A level: BBC or
equivalent
IB Diploma: 30 points
Advanced Diploma:
grade C, including
A-level at grade B
For combined
honours, normally the
offer will lie between
the offer quoted for
each subject.
TEACHING
LOCATION
Harcourt Hill Campus
ACADEMIC
FACULTY
Faculty of Humanities
and Social Sciences
Contact
tel +44 (0) 1865 484848 email query@brookes.ac.uk www.history.brookes.ac.uk
13

Oxford Brookes University
Harcourt Hill Campus
Oxford
OX2 9AT
Tel: +44 (0)1865 484848
query@brookes.ac.uk
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