Program Overview

PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS

Philosophy and Ethics explores the big questions of life and morality: on what basis do we judge things good or evil? It challenges you to examine your assumptions, opinions and worldview. Do we need to believe in God for life to have meaning – or have the arguments for the existence of God broken down? What does it mean to be human? Do we have free will, or is our life completely determined?

Through close attention to the primary texts of philosophers such as Plato, Aquinas, Descartes, Hume, Kant and Nietzsche, our Philosophy and Ethics degree will help you learn to analyse and evaluate arguments, and to compose and communicate your own ideas in a reasoned way. You will have a grounding in the foundational questions of philosophy. As you progress, you will look in depth at philosophy of religion, political philosophy, applied ethics and issues of human personhood, artificial intelligence and animality.

The degree is taught by a core team of critical academics who are passionate about teaching and are internationally recognised researchers and writers. This degree will equip you with the intellectual skills and perspectives needed to face the ethical and ideological challenges of the contemporary world.

THEOLOGY

Across 2,000 years, the Christian tradition has provoked an immense wealth of theological ideas, has adapted itself to many cultural forms and has shaped human minds and events. This degree offers you the opportunity to study Christianity from a number of perspectives – historical, doctrinal, pastoral and contextual – so that you will acquire expertise in finding your way through this complex and rich field of study.

The degree includes the academic study of the Christian Bible and embodies our commitment to take faith seriously, whilst at the same time to be intellectually stretching, stimulating and challenging. The teaching staff in the Department represent a broad range of Christian traditions, and are all published experts in their own particular fields. We have an extensive library collection in theology and religion, amounting to well over 100,000 volumes in total, and we are investing significantly in enhancing this even further, particularly with electronic resources.

By exploring the textual, historical, political and philosophical aspects of theology, our provision in this area provides you with a holistic and in-depth appreciation of the subject.