Philosophy and English Language MA (Hons)

**Philosophy**<br/><br/>Philosophy has been at the core of Western intellectual life for at least 2,500 years. It is central to our understanding of the world and our interaction with it. <br/><br/>Philosophy gives you the skills to think about great philosophical questions in a clear and systematic way. <br/><br/>While there are different approaches that philosophers have taken, the study of philosophy focuses on: <br/><br/><br/>* argument <br/><br/><br/>* critical enquiry <br/><br/><br/>* rigour in reasoning <br/><br/><br/>* clarity of expression, including making important distinctions <br/><br/><br/>**Philosophy at Edinburgh**<br/><br/>The University has a strong historic connection to the subject, counting Adam Ferguson and Sir William Hamilton among its former students. <br/><br/>Edinburgh has one of the UK’s largest philosophy departments and the Philosophy Society attracts high-profile speakers. <br/><br/>**English Language**<br/><br/>The English language has a well-recorded history of more than 1,000 years. Its changes can be traced through:<br/><br/><br/>* medieval manuscripts <br/><br/><br/>* text messages <br/><br/><br/>* recordings of spoken English. <br/><br/><br/>Using techniques from modern linguistics, you will analyse the structure of written and spoken English and explore how the language has changed in the course of its history. <br/><br/>You can also study modern-day varieties of English and Scots and identify the similarities and differences between English and other languages. <br/><br/>**Studying Philosophy and English Language**<br/><br/>This joint programme provides in-depth knowledge in both subject areas, and the opportunity to specialise in the topics that interest you most.