Philosophy

Fellows:
Dr T William Child
Prof Frank Arntzenius (Sir Peter Strawson Fellow in Philosophy)
Dr Cian Dorr (Special Supernumerary Fellow)

Junior Research Fellows:
Dr James Morauta

Lecturer
Ms Gail Leckie

Univ has a long tradition of excellence in Philosophy, and a number of Britain’s most distinguished contemporary philosophers have been Fellows of the College.

Philosophy at Oxford is always studied in combination with one or more other subjects. At Univ we have a large number of undergraduates reading Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE), and Classics, and a smaller number reading Mathematics & Philosophy, Physics & Philosophy, and Psychology & Philosophy. We encourage applications from candidates in all these subjects, and also candidates for Russian & Philosophy. We do not, however, admit undergraduates to read Philosophy with any other Modern Language, or with Theology.

Philosophy is an exciting but demanding subject and we expect a high level of commitment from all our students. The Philosophy element in each of the various joint degrees is slightly different, with varying compulsory papers and options. However, all the courses require the same skills of analysis and reasoned argument and there are core topics common to each of them.

In the first year, Classics students study a single Philosophy subject from a range of options in Ancient and Modern Philosophy. All other first-year students follow a course in Logic and an introductory course in General Philosophy; we teach General Philosophy in small classes and tutorials and Logic in classes. In addition, those taking Philosophy & Russian study John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism; students in Mathematics or Physics & Philosophy study introductions to the Philosophy of Mathematics or of Physics, respectively.

The College also collaborates with its neighbours, Corpus Christi College and Merton College, in hosting the Oxford Centre for Ethics and Philosophy of Law. The Centre exists to promote advanced work in moral philosophy (ethics) and legal philosophy (jurisprudence), particularly by encouraging and facilitating academic visits from abroad. It has a programme of regular events, such as seminars and masterclasses, most of which are open to all interested Oxford students.

Dr Child is a specialist in philosophy of mind and in the philosophy of Wittgenstein; his current research focuses on issues in self-knowledge and memory. He also teaches History of Philosophy and Knowledge and Reality.

Professor Arntzenius is a specialist in philosophy of physics and decision theory. His current interests are at the interface of philosophy of physics and metaphysics: what are the fundamental objects and features of the world according to modern physics? He also teaches logic, philosophy of science, philosophy of mathematics and philosophy of language.

Dr Dorr is a philosopher with research interests across metaphysics, philosophy of language and philosophy of physics.

Dr Morauta’s current research interests are in moral philosophy and in the theory of rationality, especially practical rationality. He also does some work in legal philosophy.

For more information, please consult the website of the Faculty of Philosophy.

See also: Classics, Philosophy, Politics & Economics, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology.