Philosophy booklet

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Philosophy

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What is Philosophy?

Why study Philosophy at University of Wales Trinity Saint David?

Philosophy is different from other academic disciplines in that it teaches you not what to think, but how to think. Philosophy explores the big questions – Who are we? What is our place in the world? How should we live? What is reality? Philosophy approaches such questions through argument, but also through vision and imagination.

The University has a long and distinguished tradition of Philosophy provision dating back to 1827, when the original St. David’s College offered its first students courses in logic and metaphysics.

The current Philosophy team provides a rich balance between the different traditions, styles and subjects of Philosophy.

The small class sizes allow for the development of personal and informal relationships between staff and students: such relationships are fundamental to philosophical dialogue and conducive to student satisfaction, but unfortunately are all too rare in academic life today.

The Philosophy team is friendly and supportive, and is renowned for providing a welcoming, stimulating, and socially enriching environment for new students.

Philosophy concerns every aspect of our lives, practical as well as theoretical. Through its grounding in real social relations and human activities, it seeks to understand and address the whole spectrum of social, ethical, environmental and political issues of today. Through Philosophy we are able not only to understand life, but to shape it.

If your interests extend to life, the universe and everything, if you want to develop a rich set of lifeenhancing skills and the power to influence positive change, then Philosophy is for you.

100%

of students in the National Student Survey (NSS) definitely agree that Philosophy staff at UWTSD are enthusiastic about what they are teaching.

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100%

100%

of students in the NSS found the course intellectually stimulating.

of students in the NSS think that Philosophy staff at UWTSD are good at explaining things. www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 3

Philosophy and Your Career

Philosophy, more than any other discipline, instils a set of skills that will have direct application in virtually any area of employment that you might enter.

The main transferable skills that will be developed through your study of Philosophy are: • The ability to analyse problems in a multi-dimensional way • The ability to think creatively, self-critically and independently • Self-motivation

100%

of students in the NSS said that their communication skills improved.

96%

The Lampeter Campus

Philosophy is taught on the Lampeter Campus. Lampeter is located in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, surrounded by rolling green hills and home to the rare red kite. At the same time, it is only 13 miles from the sea where seals and dolphins are a regular sight.

• The ability to work autonomously • Time and priority management skills • A flexible mind adaptable to managing change Philosophy encourages the development of core skills highly prized by employers. These include the ability to think clearly, logically, and creatively, to communicate articulately and accurately (both verbally and in writing), and to analyse critically and rigorously. Philosophy graduates are all-rounders –thoughtful, insightful, and versatile.

of students in the NSS feel confident in tackling unfamiliar problems as a result of the course.

Due to our location, the costs of living in Lampeter are lower than in many other parts of the country. This means that your student loan goes further in Lampeter. We also have numerous bursaries available for for full and part time students, including residential bursaries, departmental scholarships, and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David Bursary.

There are plenty of student-centred entertainment and activities, both on campus and in town. The Students’ Union plays an active role on the campus, running events throughout the year. At the SU, there is the opportunity to volunteer, volunteer, compete in sports, join student societies, or simply sit with a coffee and have a chat with friends.

The local police force, Dyfed-Powys, regularly report the lowest crime rates in the country with both personal and household crime levels half the average for England and Wales. The sense of personal safety that this brings means that you have more time and energy to concentrate on enjoying life.

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What kind of jobs do Philosophy graduates get?

All kinds! Philosophy graduates are highly sought after by employers because of their skills, their adaptability, and versatility, and consequently they find employment in a wide variety of industries, such as IT, accountancy, journalism, publishing, the law, communication, management etc. www.uwtsd.ac.uk | 5

Explore our Degrees

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BA Philosophy

Masters in the Study of Philosophy

UCAS code: V502

UCAS code: S8T3

The BA Philosophy programme provides a rich balance of both analytic and continental styles of philosophy, as well as the study of ethics, political philosophy and Eastern Philosophy.

The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars and tutorials. Class sizes are kept small, so that students have plenty of opportunity to engage with the arguments and debates.

Modules Include: Knowledge and Reality: An Introduction to Metaphysics and Epistemology

Philosophy of Religion

Freedom, Equality and Justice: An Introduction to Political Philosophy

Confucian Ethics

Environmental Philosophy

Contemporary Analytic Philosophy The Self Phenomenology & Existentialism Ancient Greek Philosophy Ethics and Global Justice Moral Theory Early Modern Philosophy Contemporary Social & Political Philosophy

Yangsheng and Daoist Body Philosophy Philosophy of Action Contemporary Metaphysics

Philosophy of Mind Buddhism

19th Century Continental Philosophy

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The Masters in the Study of Philosophy builds on the BA Philosophy degree by offering an additional year of study, funded in the same manner as an undergraduate degree.

In the fourth year of study students explore contemporary debates in philosophy. The programme is especially suited to students who wish to go on to pursue research degrees and careers in philosophy.

Modules in Detail: The Self

Phenomenology and Existentialism

The idea that someone is the same person over a period of time is central to our thoughts about, among other things, life after death, punishment, personal relationships, and our special concern about our own future. This module will consider a range of different views on this topic from both Eastern and Western Philosophy.

Phenomenology and Existentialism each attempted to uncover the concrete elements of human experience lost in the abstractness of the philosophical tradition, namely the richness and complexity of the phenomena in our experience, and the manner in which human existence is shaped by the challenge of making decisions in the face of an unpredictable future.

Philosophy of Mind What is the nature of the mind, and how does it relate to the body?

These questions have concerned philosophers for centuries, and in this module students will consider some of the answers that have been proposed.

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BA Ethical and Political Studies UCAS code: D429

This degree programme explores a broad range of ethical and political considerations including climate change, the ethics of war, the nature and ethics of political protest, poverty, animal rights, medical ethics, the nature of social relationships and the nature and degree of our obligations to others.

The BA Ethical and Political Studies programme is distinct from degrees in political science in that it does not address the workings or structures of political institutions, but rather explores the ideas and theories that underpin them. It draws upon expertise in ethics, political philosophy, anthropology, history, psychology and religious studies to provide a critical understanding of the ethical and political issues that face the modern world.

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Modules include: Ethics and Global Justice

Material Worlds: Approaches to Economic Relations

Freedom, Equality and Justice: An Introduction to Political Philosophy Protest

Political Anthropology: approaches to power

Activism and Resistance

Religion and Politics

Interactions with the Environment

Terrorism

Peoples, Worlds, Lives and Livelihoods

Medical Ethics History and Theory of Genocide

Contemporary Social & Political Philosophy Media and Consumer Psychology

Freedom, Equality and Justice: An Introduction to Political Philosophy

Protest, Activism and Resistance

Ethics and Global Justice

This module will introduce students to the key ideas and concepts within political philosophy. It will explore questions such as: Is the existence of the state justified? Are there such things as natural rights? What obligations do citizens have towards their state? Is democracy the only legitimate form of government?

Are there areas of life in which the state should not interfere? Should the institution of private property be retained? Is the market economy morally justifiable? How should goods be distributed in society?

This module explores the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of various political protest movements.

Amongst other topics it explores whether it can ever be morally justifiable to break the law or use violence as a tool of political resistance. It will also explore the relationship between protest and activism and the mainstream systems of government, such as democracy.

This module explores the ethical considerations that are involved in taking life, for example suicide, euthanasia, abortion and war. It also explores whether we have a moral duty to help people living in poverty and our moral obligations to animals and the environment.

Environmental Philosophy

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Major/Minor Programmes You can study Philosophy with a range of other subjects as a Major/Minor combination, Joint Honours, or Combined Honours degree.

Major/ Minor Programmes

Combined Honours Programmes

Major/Minor programmes enable students to study two subjects. There will be 80 credits of study for the ‘major’ subject, and 40 credits for the ‘minor’ subject per year.

Combined Honour programmes are suitable for those who wish to study three disciplines at undergraduate level.

BA Philosophy with Applied Psychology UCAS Code: 4H62

BA English, Philosophy, Education Studies UCAS Code: QVL6

BA Philosophy with Education Studies UCAS Code: VL54

BA Philosophy, Anthropology, Education Studies UCAS Code: VLL5

BA Philosophy with Heritage Management UCAS Code: 9G32

BA Philosophy, Archaeology, Education Studies UCAS Code: VVL6

Joint Honours Programmes Joint Honours programmes give students the opportunity to study Philosophy alongside another subject of interest.

BA Creative Writing and Philosophy UCAS Code: WV85

BA Philosophy, History, Education Studies UCAS Code: VVL7 BA Philosophy, Religious Studies, Education Studies UCAS Code: VVL8 BA Philosophy, Ancient History, Education Studies UCAS Code: VVL5 BA Philosophy, Classical Studies, Education Studies UCAS Code: VQL5

BA Philosophy and Theology UCAS Code: VVP5

BA Philosophy, Religion and Applied Psychology UCAS Code: 2F56

BA Philosophy and English UCAS Code: VQ53

BA Theology, Philosophy and Ethics UCAS Code: C32B

BA Philosophy and Anthropology UCAS Code: VL56

BA Religion, Philosophy and Ethics UCAS Code: JKS2

BA Philosophy and History UCAS Code: VV5C

BA Religion, Theology and Philosophy UCAS Code: K219

BA Philosophy and Heritage Studies UCAS Code: 73D7

BA Religion, Ethics and Applied Psychology UCAS Code: BSA1

BA Philosophy and Chinese Studies UCAS Code: TV1M BA Philosophy and Classical Studies UCAS Code: VQ58

BA Religion, Theology and Ethics UCAS Code: D2N4

BA Philosophy and Medieval Studies UCAS Code: VV5D BA Religious Studies and Philosophy UCAS Code: VV6M BA Chinese Civilisation and Philosophy UCAS Code: 2F56

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What our students say:

The Tutors: Professor David Cockburn, MA, BPhil, DPhil Professor of Philosophy Dr Adrian Davies, BA, MA, PhD Lecturer in Philosophy Dr Rebekah Humphries, BA, MA, PhD Lecturer in Philosophy

LUCY

SAWSAN

My experience at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David has been enriched by the tireless efforts of the members of the Philosophy Department. They continue to encourage, support, and further my We host our own philosophy society ability to work towards my potential by offering me sound advice, and hold events and get-togethers motivation, and access to resources. throughout the year, which takes philosophy to a whole new level of The real strength of the Philosophy interest.

Department is its willingness to match your efforts in working If you’re a little bit different and towards your personal success. looking for somewhere to fit in, or want an education that can work to Sawsan, BA Philosophy Graduate your individual needs, then this is the place for you.

Philosophy at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David offers a truly unique experience. The class sizes are small enough to facilitate genuine philosophical engagement.

Lucy, BA Philosophy

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TOM To study Philosophy at University of Wales Trinity Saint David is to do Philosophy, not just recite the work of others. With incredible student to staff ratios and a range of specialist lecturers, who work with you to develop your personal interests, you will become the Philosopher that you are meant to be.

Tom, MRes Philosophy (BA Philosophy graduate)

Dr David Morgans, BA, MPhil, PhD Senior Lecturer in Philosophy A Zen Buddhist Priest Dr Tristan Nash, BA, PGCE, PhD Lecturer in Philosophy Programme Director for Philosophy Mr Gavin Palmer, BA, PGCE, MA Lecturer in Philosophy Mr Gareth Rees, BA, MPhil Lecturer in Philosophy Dr Yanxia Zhao, BA, PhD Lecturer in Daoist Philosophy Director for the Centre of Daoist Studies

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For further information, please contact:

Dr Tristan Nash

01570 424846 t.nash@uwtsd.ac.uk

www.facebook.com/philosophytsd @PhilosophyUWTSD

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