Philosophy and Economics 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/>Our programme covers the basics of Western philosophy and offers you the opportunity to specialise in your areas of interest. <br/><br/>**Economics**<br/><br/>Economics is the study of the incentives that affect decisions made by: <br/><br/><br/>* individuals <br/><br/><br/>* businesses <br/><br/><br/>* governments <br/><br/><br/>* societies <br/><br/><br/>Economists analyse the macroeconomic results of those decisions, for example:<br/><br/><br/>* economic fluctuations <br/><br/><br/>* growth <br/><br/><br/>* unemployment <br/><br/><br/>* crises <br/><br/><br/>**Studying Philosophy and Economics**<br/><br/>Studying philosophy and economics will equip you with the skills to participate in philosophical and economic debates. <br/><br/>You will gain the knowledge to understand philosophical issues and the quantitative skills for answering economic questions.