About Philosophy
Philosophy is a Discipline Area within the School of Social Sciences in the Faculty of Humanities. It currently has twelve permanent members of academic staff, and it offers undergraduate degree programmes in Philosophy, Philosophy & Politics, and PPE (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics). We also participate in the Maths and Philosophy, Physics with Philosophy, Combined Studies, BA Economic and Social Studies (usually known as the "BA Econ") and BA Social Sciences ("BASS") programmes. In addition, we offer postgraduate programmes leading to an MRes and PhD in Philosophy, and an MA in Ethics and Political Philosophy (in collaboration with the Politics Discpipline Area).
We have a close relationship with the Manchester Centre for Political Theory (MANCEPT) within the Politics Discipline Area, and students on our undergraduate 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 also act as a regional branch of the Royal Institute of Philosophy.
Manchester is also an associate editors' centre for the Australasian Journal of Philosophy, for which Chris Daly, Julian Dodd, and David Liggins (from the Philosophy Discipline Area) and Jonathan Quong (from MANCEPT) are members of the editorial team.
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.