Overview

Thinking clearly about demanding questions, and addressing them with imagination and intellectual curiosity, sits at the heart of studying philosophy properly. The BA (Hons) Philosophy at Durham University offers a distinctive, research-led curriculum with considerable variety and choice, taught throughout by internationally renowned experts regardless of which topics students choose to pursue. Rather than focusing on a single tradition, students follow a genuinely wide-ranging degree spanning Anglo-American analytical philosophy, Continental philosophy and world philosophies, drawing on the department's special expertise in metaphysics, ethics, feminism, and the history and philosophy of science and medicine. Teaching moves from introductory modules covering fundamental areas like ethics and metaphysics in the first year, through more specialised study and deepening critical skills in the second, toward a self-designed dissertation as the capstone of the degree. Philosophical development is treated primarily as a matter of acquiring reasoning skills rather than simply absorbing a body of knowledge, so lectures and seminars are built around genuine discussion, questioning and structured critical dialogue. The course suits students with genuine intellectual curiosity who want real breadth across philosophical traditions, along with the independent thinking skills that come from designing their own extended research project.

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What You'll Learn

• Moral philosophy and applied ethics, exploring key concepts and their influence on theory and practice

• Core problems in epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind and philosophy of language

• A range of philosophical approaches and traditions, alongside the practice of researching and writing philosophy

• Interpretation and comprehension skills through detailed study of primary philosophical texts

• The history and philosophy of science, medicine and society

• Post-Kantian and Continental philosophy, examining prominent European philosophers critically

• World philosophies, engaging with intellectual traditions beyond the Western canon

• An independent dissertation on a philosophical topic of your own choosing, developed under supervision

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to think clearly and rigorously about complex philosophical questions, applying reasoning skills built across ethics, metaphysics, epistemology and multiple philosophical traditions. They will be equipped to interpret and critically engage with primary philosophical texts, drawing on both Western and non-Western intellectual traditions. Through structured critical dialogue and an independent dissertation, students will develop the ability to formulate original arguments and pursue sustained, self-directed research. Graduates will leave with strong analytical, reasoning and communication skills, well suited to further study or a wide range of careers valuing sharp, independent thought.