Philosophy

At Cambridge, you'll have debates with cutting–edge philosophers - here, argument and dialogue are considered the best way to get to grips with the questions involved.

Why Philosophy?

Do you enjoy constructing and demolishing arguments on the pros and cons of general issues? Do you relish puzzle–solving? Do you like subjects such as mathematics which emphasise rigorous thought? If so, philosophy might be the right subject for you.

"I was drawn to philosophy because of the depth of the questions it tries to answer, but also because of the breadth of topics within the course. The Cambridge Faculty has a highly prestigious reputation, and I feel extremely lucky to follow in the footsteps of Russell, Moore and Wittgenstein." – Mat

Philosophy aims to consider extremely general and 'ultimate' problems, such as the nature of reality, the purpose of human existence, and the basis of knowledge. It also scrutinises the methods that are used to answer such questions.

Examples of philosophical issues are: what is art? Do communities of people need governments? Is it rational to sacrifice your own interests to promote the welfare of others? Is reincarnation a logical possibility? Why do we think that there's a physical world independent of us or that there are minds other than our own? Do human beings have minds in addition to bodies? Is there an objective standard for what's right and good? Could there be alternative systems of logic or mathematics?

Why Cambridge?

Three Cambridge scholars, Bertrand Russell, G E Moore and Ludwig Wittgenstein, transformed the discipline of philosophy during the first half of the twentieth century and made Cambridge the most important centre for philosophy in the English–speaking world. Along with Frank Ramsey and others, they developed the analytic style of philosophy, now prominent throughout much of the world. Today, Cambridge remains one of the best places to get a grounding in analytic philosophy.

In addition, the Cambridge course is one of the few in which it's possible to concentrate entirely on philosophy without taking any other subject (although you can diversify within the subject if you wish).

How?

The Philosophy course is divided into three Parts (IA, IB, and Part II) and is designed to accommodate the fact that many students are taking the subject for the first time.

Much of the teaching is done in lectures and there are classes for some subjects (such as first–year Logic). You have weekly College supervisions, for each of which you're given recommended reading on a topic and asked to write an essay about it. You then discuss the essay and the topic with your supervisor. Although it varies throughout the year, you typically have between six and 12 lectures each week, along with between one and three supervisions or small classes

Throughout the three years the emphasis is on analytic philosophy. You're encouraged to read the works of modern analytical philosophers and to think directly about philosophical topics. However, our course isn't confined to the study of analytical philosophers and the problems which have fascinated them. The history of philosophy from Plato to Wittgenstein is taught at various levels and the course includes papers on medieval and modern philosophers outside the analytical tradition. You can also study such subjects as aesthetics and political philosophy.

Particularly in the first year, we want to ensure that you acquire the reasoning skills which enable you to tackle problems of a philosophical character and to think intelligently about abstract questions generally, not just gather information about who said what. For this reason, we encourage our students to approach topics in their own way and we organise regular discussion groups for first– and second–year students.

Our objective in Part II is to provide you with an understanding of various contemporary debates and to familiarise you with current philosophical concepts. Lectures involve exploring current and new positions on debates, and you participate in seminar discussions on advanced subjects.

The Philosophy Faculty has close links with related departments such as Classics, History, and History and Philosophy of Science, so you can take advantage of a wide range of specialised lectures and seminars. You’ll also have access to many excellent libraries.

Assessment

Most papers are assessed by a written examination, each lasting three hours. However, in Parts IB and II you can submit two extended essays instead of sitting one of the subject examinations. Part II offers the additional alternative of submitting a dissertation on a subject of your choice.

Recommended reading

If you’re thinking of applying to study Philosophy and haven’t already done so, we strongly advise you to read some books on the subject (if you haven’t already done so), since nothing else can give you a realistic idea of what it’s like. For Example:

• S Blackburn, Think
• R Descartes, Meditations
• D Hume, Enquiries
• J S Mill, Utilitarianism
• B Russell, Problems of Philosophy

For more suggestions consult our website.

Changing course

It’s possible to combine philosophy with another subject by changing to or from another course. You can either study another subject for one or two years(such as Mathematics, Classics or Economics) and then switch to Philosophy, or change to another subject (such as Economics; History; Psychology; or Politics, Psychology and Sociology) after Part IA or Part IB Philosophy.

Although the system is fairly flexible, not all combinations are feasible. If you’re thinking of such changes, please consult your College about your plans.

After Philosophy?

Thinking philosophically requires rigour, precision and creativity; qualities that can be applied to any other problem. Although a Philosophy degree isn't an essential qualification for any particular career, the analytical and critical skills developed through its study prepare our graduates for a variety of professions, including business, computing, journalism, administration and law.

Course outline

Year 1 Part IA Part IA gives you an introduction to philosophy through the study of four core compulsory papers (the second and third years focus on areas that particularly interest you): Metaphysics and Philosophy of Mind Ethics Logic (it isn’t necessary to have taken Mathematics at A Level/IB Higher Level for this) several set texts, such as Plato’s Meno; Hume’s Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion; and J S Mill’s On Liberty and The Subjection of Women. Year 2 Part IB Part IB is about exploring the philosophical aspects of a range of issues, both practical and theoretical. There are two compulsory papers: Metaphysics and Epistemology Logic You then choose two further subjects from a range including papers such as: Ethics Philosophy of Science Political Philosophy Greek and Roman Philosophy or Medieval and Modern Philosophy Experimental Psychology (this paper is from the Natural Sciences course and involves practical work.)

Year 3 Part II In Part II, there are no compulsory papers and you choose four from an extensive range of subjects. These include most of those mentioned above, studied at a more advanced level, as well as several papers covering new areas. Papers currently available include: Mathematical Logic Philosophical Logic European Philosophy from Kant Aesthetics In addition, there may be a Special Subject which changes from time to time (for 2011, the Special Subject is Wittgenstein). It's also possible to take one or two papers from another course, such as Classics or Theology and Religious Studies.