Philosophy and Linguistics 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/>**Linguistics**<br/><br/>Linguistics explores how language works. It describes how we create meaning through:<br/><br/><br/>* sounds <br/><br/><br/>* words <br/><br/><br/>* sentences <br/><br/><br/>* conversations <br/><br/><br/>It also studies: <br/><br/><br/>* the uses of language in everyday life <br/><br/><br/>* ways in which language varies across society and evolves over time <br/><br/><br/>* how language is mastered by children <br/><br/><br/>Linguistics has a long history at the University of Edinburgh, and our teaching staff have an excellent reputation for research in this area. <br/><br/>**Studying Philosophy and Linguistics**<br/><br/>This joint programme gives you an in-depth knowledge in both subject areas, and the opportunity to specialise in the topics that interest you most.