MA Philosophy of Biological and Cognitive Sciences

Programme overview

The Department of Philosophy has outstanding research strength in the fields of philosophy of biology, philosophy of psychology and philosophy of cognitive sciences. We are ranked by the latest Philosophical Gourmet Report (2017/18) as the strongest department in the UK for the philosophy of biology and the joint strongest for general philosophy of science. The department was recently home to a European Research Council project on Darwinism and the Theory of Rational Choice that explored connections between biological and cognitive science research.

This MA builds on these outstanding research strengths. It is intended for graduates of philosophy, psychology or biology who wish to study philosophy of science with an emphasis on the biological and cognitive sciences. The programme focuses on philosophical issues arising from these scientific disciplines. The history of science is studied in terms of the philosophical debate about the nature of scientific method and knowledge.

As a postgraduate student, you will be an active member of the department’s flourishing research culture. You will be encouraged to attend and participate in both the weekly departmental research seminar and in the Philosophy and History of Science seminar, which often features well-known scholars in the field, from Bristol and beyond. The department has strong links with the School of Psychological Science, the School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology.

Careers

Students who have completed the MA in Philosophy of Biological and Cognitive Sciences have gone on to careers in teaching and science administration. A number of MA graduates pursue further studies in either philosophy or science.