About Philosophy
Philosophy is a Discipline Area within the School of Social Sciences in the Faculty of Humanities. It has 14 permanent members of academic staff, and it offers undergraduate degree programmes in Philosophy, Philosophy & Politics, and PPE. We also participate in the Maths & Philosophy, Physics with Philosophy, and Combined Studies programmes. We also offer postgraduate programmes leading to an MA, MRes and PhD in Philosophy.
We have a close relationship with the Manchester Centre for Political Theory (MANCEPT) within the Politics Discipline Area, and students on our undergraduate and MA courses are encouraged to take course units in political theory and political philosophy offered by MANCEPT. In addition, John O'Neill co-directs the Centre for the Study of Political Economy.
Our research and teaching areas lie mostly within the tradition of analytic philosophy, with special emphasis on certain key areas: metaphysics; aesthetics; ethics; epistemology; the history of analytic philosophy; and the philosophy of mind. We have a lively programme of research events, including research seminars throughout the academic year and frequent conferences. We currently act as a regional branch of the Royal Institute of Philosophy.
Philosophy at Manchester has a long and distinguished history. Past professors of the University have included Samuel Alexander, Dorothy Emmet, Michael Polanyi and Arthur Prior. Wittgenstein was here for a while too - though he was studying aeronautical engineering rather than philosophy.