"the highest endeavour of the mind, and the highest virtue, is to understand things by intuition"
FAQ About Studying Philosophy
Questions to ask about Philosophy at Essex
What is Philosophy?
- How do we decide what is right and wrong?
- Are there any ultimate truths about the way things are?
If there are, could we know them?
- Do animals have rights? Indeed do human beings really
have rights?
- When is a society just?
- What is it to be conscious? Could a computer be conscious?
- What makes something a work of art?
- What does it mean for history to have a direction?
If you have ever thought about questions like these, you
have started to do philosophy, for philosophy involves thinking
systematically about the most fundamental questions in each
area of human life.
Why study Philosophy?
The questions that it asks are as fundamental as
questions can get.
They arise from our experience of life and our effort
to understand the world. Sooner or later most human beings
find themselves confronting some of these questions. To study
philosophy is to grapple with them in a systematic way and
to explore what the tradition of philosophy has to say about
them. Given the unavoidability of these questions, it seems
apt to spend some part of one's life seriously addressing
them.
The skills philosophy teaches are crucial and useful.
Though the study of philosophy does not prepare you
for any particular career, it does cultivate certain skills
that are important in most forms of working life. It requires
you to think clearly and deeply, to distinguish good from
bad arguments, to use your imagination, and above all to think
critically and for yourself. These skills are at once humanly
important and increasingly appreciated by employers.
Why study Philosophy at Essex?
A department with a reputation for intellectual excellence
within a university with a similar reputation.
Students at Essex are taught by philosophers doing their own original research in philosophy. The
philosophical work of its members has led to the Department
being very highly rated in recent national reviews of universities,
coming near the top of the philosophy league tables in both
The Guardian and The Times for several years running. We
also enjoy a reputation for quality teaching, achieving the
highest possible score of 24 out of 24 in the last Teaching
Quality Assessment.
An unusual variety of modules.
The Department is rare in having representatives of both the
Anglo-American tradition in philosophy and the tradition of
Continental Philosophy, Phenomenology and Existentialism. You may know the
latter through the writings of Dostoievsky, Kafka, Sartre,
Heidegger
and Camus. This feature of the Department is reflected in
the unusual range of its modules. This range is further enhanced
by our strong commitment to interdisciplinary work. This means
that students are encouraged to enquire into the philosophical
problems raised by, for example, works of art and literature,
the phenomena of psychology and politics, and the theories
of scientists and linguists.
Time to make up your mind whether philosophy really
suits you.
Many of those entering the University to study philosophy
have not studied it before. The flexible degree structure
at Essex gives you the chance to try out philosophy in your
first year to see if it suits you. In the first year
you can study one, two or three other subjects besides
philosophy, depending on your choice of degree scheme, giving
you additional opportunities to combine Philosophy with other
disciplines.
Who does Philosophy?
Most of those taking philosophy at degree level have not
got an A-level in it as this is a fairly new
A-level and
is therefore taken by relatively few. Previous study of other
humanities, social science or even natural science is a good
way into philosophy since all these intellectual areas raise
their own philosophical questions. Applications from people
with such backgrounds are therefore welcome.