Philosophy and Politics 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. Later in the degree, you can select from a variety of courses from Philosophy of Well-Being to Feminism. <br/><br/>**Politics**<br/><br/>Politics studies the theory and practice of how societies are governed. It asks questions such as:<br/><br/><br/>* How do our political institutions create collective rules and who has the power to make them? <br/><br/><br/>* What are the consequences of political decisions? <br/><br/><br/>* What is the nature of a just society, and how do we get there?<br/><br/><br/>Drawing on the expertise of leading academics and researchers in the field, you will explore the origins and present-day contexts of societal conflicts about power and resources.<br/><br/>You will also study the:<br/><br/><br/>* processes of governance at the local, national, and international levels <br/><br/><br/>* morality of political action <br/><br/><br/>* limits of freedom and justice<br/><br/><br/>**Studying Philosophy and Politics**<br/><br/>This joint programme gives you in-depth knowledge in both subject areas, and the opportunity to specialise in the topics that interest you most.