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Study Philosophy at Otago

Critical thinking for a complex world.

There is no limit to the issues to which philosophers apply their reason: from knowledge (Are scientific claims certain?), to language (What is meaning?), from ethical and social problems (How should we run the country?), to metaphysical issues (Is the future less real than the past?).

The skills and knowledge you gain from studying philosophy will make you a better student in other subjects; they will also be invaluable in a wide variety of occupations because philosophy focuses less on what you believe, and more on the quality of your reasons for believing it.

By examining the reasons for the claims we make, philosophy develops your powers of argument, analysis, and critical reasoning. It will help you to express yourself more clearly and give you the abilities required to address complex and difficult problems.

Why study Philosophy?

Philosophy provides a toolkit to critically engage with difficult and important questions. It seems that some actions are right and others are wrong, but it’s difficult to explain if this is because one produces better outcomes or the other respects humanity. It seems that some scientific claims are almost certainly true, but a crucial element of the success of science is its willingness to revise its claims in light of new evidence. It seems that there is little more to our brains than complex neural networks, but how do these networks generate intense feelings?

Discussing these abstract problems develops the philosophical tools necessary to deal with practical problems, such as whether an unpopular theory should be accepted, or to what extent we can appeal to common sense when arguing about a radical claim. In grappling with these issues, philosophers seek to build a well-grounded picture of the world and of human life. The key skill for a philosopher is the ability to construct and dissect arguments – a central part of all philosophy is training in clear and effective reasoning.

What do students who’ve taken Philosophy say?

“The most interesting thing I’ve learned about in my life. Wish someone had told me about it when I first got to Uni.”

“My Philosophy degree gave me an edge over other [job] applicants. It also served me well as a social worker and an English teacher before becoming a lawyer.”

“My Philosophy degree allows me to look at the world in a meaningful way and provides me the tools to make sense of complex situations.”

“Critical thinking skills are very marketable in my profession. My Philosophy degree is a point of reference that evidences those skills, and has helped me differentiate my application from other graduates.”

Philosophy at Otago

he Philosophy programme at Otago has an outstanding reputation for research, in a country known internationally for its strength in philosophy. Our research specialisations include metaphysics, epistemology, ethical theory, philosophy of science, philosophical logic, early modern philosophy, philosophy of artificial intelligence, and the philosophy of language and mind.

The Philosophy programme has a friendly and open atmosphere in which staff and postgraduate students regularly socialise. We are an active community – a steady stream of visitors from across New
Zealand and from overseas attend our weekly seminar programme, providing students with the opportunity to meet and attend seminars given by a wide range of leading philosophers. Our undergraduate Philosophy Club meets monthly for pizza and philosophical discussion.

Studying Philosophy

Philosophy can be studied either as a major or a minor in a Bachelor of Arts (BA). Some Philosophy papers can be taken as Science subjects and Critical Thinking (PHIL 105) may be taken as part of a Humanities, Science, or Commerce course. Many students choose to add Philosophy to their skill set by doing a double major or double degree such as BA/ LLB, BA/BSc or BA/BCom. Philosophy forms part of the interdisciplinary PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) Arts major. It also may be taken as part of the Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc), which provides the competitive advantage of a double degree in arts and science in a shorter time frame.

Background required

No previous acquaintance with philosophy is needed to take any of our 100-level papers, or many of our 200-level papers.

Career opportunities

Some of our students go on to successful careers as professional philosophers, but for most of our students, it’s not about getting a career in philosophy, it’s about getting some philosophy into their careers.

Many surveys of salary by degree only look at salary after a few years of graduation, which can be misleading. A survey of 1.2 million degree holders by PayScale, Inc., cited in the Wall Street Journal, shows that Philosophy majors increase their starting salary by 103.5% after 10 years, an equal best with mathematics among all majors. The overall mid career salary for a philosophy major at the 75th percentile is 127,000 U.S. dollars, 9th among all 50 majors surveyed.

Philosophy gives you a unique mix of analytical and literary skills that are highly sought after by employers whether you are pursuing a career in academia or elsewhere.

A recent destinations survey showed that our graduates live in cities across the world such as Vienna, London, Frankfurt, Vancouver, Berlin, Singapore, New Orleans, and all over New Zealand and Australia. See the placements of some of our recent students.

Philosophers find work in a huge variety of careers, including:

  • Acting
  • Computing
  • Diplomacy
  • Dispute resolution
  • Documentary film making
  • E-commerce
  • Economics
  • Journalism
  • Law
  • Medicine
  • Nature conservation
  • Politics
  • Publishing
  • Science
  • Social services
  • Software Design
  • Sport
  • Systems analysis
  • Teaching

Qualifications

Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.

Programme requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Philosophy

Level Papers Points
100-level Two 100-level PHIL papers 36
200-level

Two 200-level PHIL papers

One further PHIL paper at 200-level or above

One of GEND 201  Introduction to Feminist Theory, POLS 202  Theories of Justice, or PSYC 204  Justice, Race and Class, may be substituted for one 200-level PHIL paper

36

18

300-level

Four 300-level PHIL papers (or three 300-level PHIL papers and one 400-level PHIL paper)

One of BITC 301  Bioethics, CLAS 340  Love, Death and the Good Life: Socrates and Plato, POLS 301  Power and Liberty, or POLS 307  Nature, Conflict, and the State, may be substituted for one 300-level PHIL paper

72
Plus

198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts

198
Total   360

Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Philosophy

Papers
  • PHIL 490  Dissertation

  • Three further papers from 400-level PHIL papers or CLAS 440  Advanced Studies in Socrates and Plato

    Prerequisites: One of PHIL 105  Critical Thinking, or PHIL 222  Introduction to Formal Logic, or equivalent

Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Philosophy

The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Philosophy is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).

Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework)) in Philosophy

Papers

CLAS 440 may be substituted for one 400-level PHIL paper.

Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Philosophy

Thesis
  • Thesis: PHIL 5

Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Philosophy or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Philosophy must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Philosophy prior to undertaking the thesis.

Minor subject requirements

Philosophy as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BEntr, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc degree

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

Level Papers Points
100-level Two 100-level PHIL papers

36

200-level

Two 200-level PHIL papers

36

300-level

One 300-level PHIL paper

18
Total   90

Papers

Paper code Year Title Points Teaching period
PHIL101 2023 Mind and Reality 18 points Semester 1
PHIL103 2023 Ethical Issues 18 points Semester 2
PHIL105 2023 Critical Thinking 18 points Semester 1
PHIL106 2023 Radical Philosophy 18 points Semester 2
PHIL222 2023 Introduction to Formal Logic 18 points Semester 1
PHIL223 2023 Metaphysical Questions 18 points Semester 1
PHIL225 2023 Philosophy of Science 18 points Semester 2
PHIL227 2023 Morality and Politics: Hobbes to Hume 18 points Not offered in 2023
PHIL228 2023 Ethics 18 points Semester 1
PHIL229 2023 Reason, Belief and the Sacred 18 points Semester 2
PHIL231 2023 Early Modern Philosophy A: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz 18 points Not offered in 2023
PHIL232 2023 Early Modern Philosophy B: Locke, Berkeley, Hume 18 points Semester 2
PHIL233 2023 Philosophy of Mind and Language 18 points Semester 1
PHIL234 2023 Are there moral facts? 18 points Semester 2
PHIL235 2023 Environmental Philosophy 18 points Semester 2
PHIL236 2023 An Introduction to the Philosophy of Language 18 points Semester 2
PHIL239 2023 Bertrand Russell: Ethics, Logic, Pacifism and Truth 18 points Not offered in 2023
PHIL240 2023 Epistemology: The Theory of Knowledge 18 points Semester 1
PHIL312 2023 Advanced Formal Logic 18 points Not offered, expected to be offered in 2025
PHIL314 2023 No-Ought-From-Is and the Slavery of Reason 18 points Semester 1
PHIL315 2023 Are There Moral Facts? 18 points Semester 2
PHIL323 2023 Metaphysical Questions 18 points Semester 1
PHIL329 2023 Reason, Belief and the Sacred 18 points Semester 2
PHIL331 2023 Early Modern Philosophy A: Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz 18 points Not offered in 2023
PHIL332 2023 Early Modern Philosophy B: Locke, Berkeley, Hume 18 points Semester 2
PHIL333 2023 Philosophy of Mind and Language 18 points Semester 1
PHIL334 2023 Philosophy of Biology 18 points Not offered in 2023
PHIL335 2023 Why Be Moral? 18 points Semester 1
PHIL336 2023 An Introduction to the Philosophy of Language (Advanced) 18 points Semester 2
PHIL338 2023 Ethical Theory 18 points Semester 2
PHIL339 2023 Bertrand Russell: Ethics, Logic, Pacifism and Truth (Advanced) 18 points Not offered in 2023
PHIL340 2023 Epistemology: The Theory of Knowledge (Advanced) 18 points Semester 1
PHIL401 2023 Advanced History of Philosophy 20 points Not offered, expected to be offered in 2025
PHIL405 2023 Philosophy of Biology 20 points Not offered in 2023
PHIL406 2023 Why Be Moral? 20 points Semester 1
PHIL409 2023 Advanced Metaphysics 20 points Not offered in 2023
PHIL413 2023 Ethical Theory 20 points Semester 2
PHIL414 2023 No-Ought-From-Is and the Slavery of Reason 20 points Semester 1
PHIL415 2023 Meaning and Metaphysics 20 points Not offered in 2023
PHIL451 2023 Special Topic 20 points Not offered in 2023
PHIL458 2023 Special Topic 20 points Not offered, expected to be offered in 2025
PHIL462 2023 Special Topic: Philosophy of Mathematics 20 points Not offered in 2023
PHIL480 2023 Research Essay 20 points Semester 1, Semester 2
PHIL490 2023 Dissertation 60 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period
PHIL590 2023 Research Dissertation 60 points 1st Non standard period, 2nd Non standard period

Key information for students

Contact us

Email philosophy@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/philosophy