Philosophy at Trinity Saint David

Philosophy

UNIVERSIT Y OF WALES TRINIT Y SAINT DAVID - L AMPETER 0300 500 1822 www.tsd.ac.uk

PHILOSOPHY

What is Philosophy?

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.

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 life-enhancing skills and the power to influence positive change, then Philosophy is for you. The rewards of a Philosophy degree are not just intellectual, but financial as well – Philosophy graduates are highly sought after by employers and have a very high employability rate.

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Philosophy and Your Career Philosophy, more than any other discipline, instills a set of skills that will have direct application in virtually any area of employment that you might enter. According to a recent editorial in The Times: In this age of uncertainty, when today’s vocational training may be to-morrow’s passport to redundancy, “dare to think” should be the motto pinned on the wall of every undergraduate room and recruitment agency. The great virtue of philosophy is that it teaches not what to think, but how to think. Philosophy is, in commercial jargon, the ultimate “transferable work skill.”

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

PHILOSOPHY 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. According to The Higher Education Academy, for Philosophy graduates ‘the employability possibilities are almost limitless.’

Not surprisingly, Philosophy graduates have a very high employability rate of 98.9% - one of the highest of any discipline.

• The ability to work autonomously • Time and priority management skills

How much do Philosophy graduates earn?

• A flexible mind adaptable to managing change

According to a recent article in The Independent (30 April 2009), Philosophy graduates earn, on average, £21,466 following graduation. This is higher than graduates of Business Studies, Politics, Accounting, Education, Law, Chemistry, Anthropology, Classics, History, Religious Studies, Pharmacology, English, Sociology, Psychology, Media Studies, Art & Design, Archaeology and many other popular degree subjects!

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.

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PHILOSOPHY

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Why study at Trinity Saint David?

PHILOSOPHY

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

Philosophy is now delivered by a dedicated team working in the new School of Cultural Studies, following the creation of University of Wales Trinity Saint David in 2010. The current Philosophy team provides a rich balance between the different traditions, styles and subjects of Philosophy.

The small class sizes allows 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.

A variety of teaching methods contributes to the breadth of scope of the undergraduate degree in Philosophy at Trinity Saint David, with seminars, tutorials, workshop sessions, and the more traditional lectures, as well as more modern methods utilising the internet and other e-learning facilities.

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

Our students are from a wide range of academic backgrounds. The University is noted for the support it offers to students from non-traditional backgrounds, and those who are returning to study after a long break from formal education. There is a high proportion of mature students, who bring their life-experiences to discussions and debates.

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PHILOSOPHY

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.

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.

Even though Lampeter is not a large city, there is plenty of student-centred entertainment and activities, both on campus and in town. The MSN website places Lampeter in the top ten university towns in the UK. 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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My experience at 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 ability to work towards my potential by offering me sound advice, motivation, and access to resources. The real strength of the Philosophy Department is its willingness to match your efforts in working towards your personal success.

�

Sawsan Bastawy, BA Philosophy

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Who’s Who in the Department

PHILOSOPHY

Professor David Cockburn David Cockburn has also taught at University of Wales Swansea, the Open University, and Abo Akademi in Finland. He held a British Academy Research Readership 1994-96. His research areas include Hume, Wittgenstein, Philosophy of Mind, Time, Causation and Ethics.

Dr David Morgans (Lecturer) Before joining TSD, David was Senior Lecturer and Associate Dean (Research) in the School of Social Sciences, University of Wales, Newport. His research interests include Modern European Philosophy, Cultural studies, Wittgenstein, and the interface between Analytic and Continental Philosophy.

Dr James Luchte (Lecturer) James has written a number of books, including Pythagoras and the Doctrine of Transmigration: Wandering Souls (2009), Heidegger’s Early Philosophy (2008), and Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason: A Reader’s Guide (2007). He has also published articles on various topics in European and Continental philosophy.

Dr Tristan Nash (Lecturer) Tristan’s research interests include metaethics and applied ethics. He is also the Undergraduate Admissions Tutor for Philosophy.

Dr Rebekah Humphreys (Lecturer) Rebekah completed a BA (1999), an MA (2001), and a PhD (2010) at Cardiff University. Before working at TSD, she worked as a Tutor of Philosophy at Cardiff University and as a Visiting Lecturer at University of Wales, Newport. Her research interests include applied ethics (especially animal ethics and environmental ethics) and moral philosophy in general.

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PHILOSOPHY

BA Philosophy The majority of our students opt to take the Single Honours BA Philosophy programme. Single Honours students take almost all of their modules in one particular area of study, so Single Honours Philosophy students take almost all of their modules in Philosophy.

BA Philosophy - V502

Joint Honours

Also popular is a Joint Honours programme, where students take around half of their modules in Philosophy and the other half in another discipline (for example English, or Theology, or Classics etc).

BA Philosophy & Anthropology - VL56 BA Philosophy & Chinese St - TV1M BA Philosophy & Classical St - VQ58 BA Philosophy & Creative Writing WV85 BA Philosophy & English - VQ53 BA Philosophy & History - V V5C BA Philosophy & Islamic St - V VMP BA Philosophy & Medieval St - V V5D BA Philosophy & Religious St - V V6M BA Philosophy & Theology - V VP5

Typical modules

Location

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Ancient Philosophy Ethics Scepticism and Knowledge Aesthetics Modern European Philosophy Moral Philosophy Philosophy of Religion Philosophy of Social Science Early Modern Philosophy Contemporary Political Philosophy Metaphysics Phenomenology and Existentialism Philosophy of Mind Wittgenstein

Note that the modules listed are indicative; not every module will be available in any given year.

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UCAS code

Lampeter Campus

Course length 3 years full-time; part-time study available

Entry requirements Entry is based on individual merit

BA Applied Philosophy About the course

Typical modules

A new degree that offers an opportunity to explore philosophical approaches and questions as a prelude to their systematic application to contemporary issues and debates.

• • • • • •

Applied philosophical studies involves questioning much that is taken for granted by common sense or popular belief, in morals, politics, religion, art, history and science. Consequently, its method is necessarily both imaginative and analytic, the aim being to elucidate concepts and understand varieties of explanation and description in various fields, rather than to rival their proper practitioners in the discovery of facts, the construction of theories or the implementation of ideals. These debates include the values of freedom and equality, human rights and social justice, and environmental ethics, asking important questions such as whether punishment can be justified or whether animals have rights?

You will consider the significance of issues in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, ethical theory and political philosophy to questions of practical concern such as abortion, euthanasia, suicide, freedom of speech, sexual and racial discrimination, debates surrounding reproductive technologies, genetic enhancement, criminal punishment, the environment, world hunger, and the welfare of future people.

PHILOSOPHY

Self and Society Political Philosophy Ethics and Social Dilemmas Theories of Society Contemporary Political Philosophy Contemporary Social Theory

Key features • Small seminar-based classes • Broad range of options • Opportunity for independent research project • Annual undergraduate conference

Career Opportunities • • • •

Law Politics and Civil Service Social Organisations Media

UCAS code BA Applied Philosophy - V503

Location Lampeter Campus

Course length 3 years full-time; part-time study available

Entry requirements Entry is based on individual merit

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PHILOSOPHY

Some Philosophical Problems Annabel killed her husband with a shotgun when she learned about his infidelity.

Betty fired at her husband, trying to kill him, but missed.

Claire went to get a gun to kill her husband, but he scuttled out of the house before she found one.

Debra would have shot her husband had she ever learned of his infidelity, but she never did. a) These four cases would be treated quite differently by the law, and our attitude to the women would be very different: is this irrational? b) If not, how would you distinguish the cases? c) If you think the four women deserve to be blamed equally, what would you say about Emma? Emma would have killed her unfaithful husband if it hadn’t been for the fact that she inherited, genetically and through her upbringing, an entirely non-violent nature.

“I believe that the world came into existence in 1882. I am not suggesting that historical documents or scientific evidence point towards this conclusion. My view is rather that the world sprang into existence then, complete with all those things which make it look much older - fossils, documents, memories - looking just as it would look if it were true. But in that respect I am no worse off than you are. You do not, and from the nature of the case could not possibly, have any reason for preferring your view of the matter to mine.� a) Is what is said in the last sentence correct? If not, why not? b) Could the discovery of a very old man with a very good memory make any difference to the case? c) It might be said that our normal view of the matter is simpler than the rival offered. Does that give grounds for thinking that our normal view is more likely to be correct? Or just for thinking that it will be more convenient to hold on to it? d) If what is said in the last sentence of the quotation is correct, should we conclude that a really rational person should simply hold no views at all about the age of the world?

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PHILOSOPHY It would be possible in principle to split your brain down the middle, and transfer each half into a new body. The result (let us suppose) would be two lopsided but functioning persons, each with some of your characteristics call them Brown and Robinson. Suppose that this was done. What would become of you? a) Would you be both Brown and Robinson? If your answer is ‘Yes’, how would you reply to the objection that this implies that Brown is the same person as Robinson (namely you), which is absurd since there are clearly two people here? b) Would you be just one of the resulting people? If so, would there be any way of telling which one was you? c) Would you be neither? If your answer is ‘Yes’, how would you reply to the objection that this implies that the operation is as bad as death, and that this is absurd since it is quite clear that if you remove and destroy one half of my brain I survive? d) Is there some other answer which is more acceptable than any of these?

On Monday Punch severely beat Judy. On Tuesday Punch is knocked down and killed by a bus. On Wednesday Judy dies as a result of her injuries. So Punch killed Judy - but when? a) On Monday? If so, how would you reply to the objection that he can’t have killed her before she was dead? b) On Wednesday? If so, how would you reply to the objection that he can’t have killed her after he was dead? c) Is there a better answer than either of those?

A child conceived by your mother a few seconds earlier or later than you were would have grown from the same ovum from which you grew, but almost certainly from a different sperm. So it would have had some but not all of your genes. A child conceived a month earlier or later would have grown from a different ovum as well. a) Could you have been conceived a few seconds earlier or later? b) If you answered ‘Yes’ to (a), then could you have been conceived a month earlier or later? Or have been of the opposite sex? Or have been conceived by a different woman?

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Further information For further information, please visit our webpages www.tsd.ac.uk/en/schoolofculturalstudies/philosophy or call 0300 500 1822