Philosophy
Philosophy is for thinkers and doers. It's about solving real-life problems, and applying intellectual rigour to how we understand and interact with others, society and the world. Studying Philosophy at Waikato will teach you how to learn, think and write clearly, argue vigorously, and question deeply held assumptions and beliefs.
The study of Philosophy involves tackling ethical and science-related issues, logic problems and debates about the nature of reality. It asks fundamental questions about what it means to be human, at this time and in this place. Questions such as: what is truth; what is reality; what is the mind; and what is good?
Employers understand the value of graduates who can think, and decide, for themselves. Waikato Philosophy graduates have the practical and analytical skills needed for careers within the public and private, health, business, environmental, publishing, information technology and education sectors, among others.
Key information
| Study Locations: | Hamilton; Tauranga; Online |
|---|---|
| Faculty: |
Study Philosophy in these qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Communication Studies
- Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Media and Creative Technologies
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science (Technology)
- Bachelor of Social Sciences
- Bachelor of Tourism
- Certificate
- Diploma
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Master of Arts
- Master of Arts (Applied)
- Master of Laws
- Master of Management Studies
- Master of Māori and Pacific Development
- Master of Philosophy
- Master of Science
- Master of Science (Research)
- Master of Science (Technology)
- Master of Social Sciences
- Postgraduate Certificate
- Postgraduate Diploma
Philosophy as a specialisation of
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Communication Studies
- Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Media and Creative Technologies
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science (Technology)
- Bachelor of Social Sciences
- Bachelor of Tourism
- Certificate
- Diploma
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Master of Arts
- Master of Arts (Applied)
- Master of Laws
- Master of Management Studies
- Master of Māori and Pacific Development
- Master of Philosophy
- Master of Science
- Master of Science (Research)
- Master of Science (Technology)
- Master of Social Sciences
- Postgraduate Certificate
- Postgraduate Diploma
Career opportunities
- Business Consultant
- Editor
- Environmental Consultant
- Health Policy Adviser
- Policy Analyst
- Public Relations Practitioner
Papers
Available Philosophy papers
100 level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| ARTSC110 | Old Worlds - New Worlds | 18A (Hamilton) |
| This multi-disciplinary paper offers students a rich context in which to develop arts-based reading, writing and research skills. It is structured around stories of cultural encounter and journeys through place and time, and focuses on a variety of printed and electronic texts, moving and still images, and sound. The paper is deliv... | ||
| ARTSC111 | Social Science Theory and Action | 18B (Hamilton) & 18B (Tauranga) |
| This paper introduces University of Waikato social scientists as researchers. Each presenters research will be discussed to demonstrate how it illustrates key themes of the social sciences and their specific disciplines. | ||
| PHILO102 | Introduction to Logic | 18B (Hamilton) |
| An easy introduction to formal logic comprising an explanation of key concepts such as validity and proof, and an introduction to propositional and predicate logic. | ||
| PHILO103 | Critical Thinking | 18A (Hamilton), 18B (Online), 18B (Tauranga) & 18T (Online) |
| This paper helps students to engage critically with the sorts of arguments encountered both inside and outside the University. | ||
| PHILO106 | Social and Moral Philosophy | 18A (Hamilton) & 18A (Online) |
| A study of key concepts in areas of applied ethics including abortion, euthanasia, health care, children's rights, pornography, justice, environmental issues, religion and ethics, and other issues. | ||
| PHILO150 | The Big Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy | 18B (Hamilton) |
| An introduction to philosophical problems in the areas of knowledge and mind, value theory, metaphysics and religion. | ||
200 level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| MAORI202 | Nga Iho Matua: Maori Philosophy | 18B (Hamilton) |
| This paper examines the philosophical underpinnings of seminal tikanga Maori concepts, and their influence both historically and in contemporary Maori culture. | ||
| PHILO204 | Wisdom, Language, and Communication | 18A (Hamilton) |
| Someone says, Zombies eat brains. How does language and knowledge enable us to convey thoughts about non-existent things? This paper explores major debates in epistemology and the philosophy of language. | ||
| PHILO208 | Reason, Science and Pseudoscience | 18B (Hamilton) |
| What makes science so successful? In this paper we discuss scientific reasoning, scientific methods and the social structure of science, and provide tools for differentiating science from pseudoscience. | ||
| PHILO215 | Moral and Political Philosophy: A Historical Introduction | 18B (Hamilton) |
| This paper uses Plato's Republic to introduce students to central issues in moral and political philosophy, including questions about virtue, happiness, justice, liberty, democracy, tyranny, feminism, art, censorship, and moral education. | ||
| PHILO217 | Environmental Ethics | 18S (Hamilton) & 18S (Online) |
| A study of ethical questions about the relation of humans to the rest of the natural world, including the attribution of value and rights to the non-human world and ethical issues in environment and development. | ||
| PHILO218 | Ethics at Work | 18T (Online) |
| This is an applied ethics paper focussing on the professions, research and business. It examines contemporary issues relevant to a wide range of occupations graduates might enter. | ||
| PHILO225 | Happiness and Wellbeing | 18A (Hamilton) |
| Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern science, this paper investigates the meaning and value of happiness, and the role it plays in making our lives go well for us. | ||
300 level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| FASS396 | Work Placement | 18C (Block) & 18D (Block) |
| This paper enables students to undertake work placement in an area related to their major as part of their degree. Students work in a chosen field for a period of time in order to gain valuable work experience and learn from experts in their chosen field. | ||
| HIST338 | An Age of Reason? The European Enlightenment | 18B (Online) |
| This paper examines the nature and context of significant intellectual developments in Western Europe, circa 1500-1800. | ||
| PCSS302 | Maori Knowledge and Western Impacts in Education | 18A (Online) & 18A (Tauranga) |
| This paper explores comparisons between key Western and Maori philosophies. The aim of the paper is to consider how Maori and Western philosophies respectively describe the self in relation to knowledge, and then to delve into issues around the uptake and transmission of knowledge. | ||
| PHIL305 | Philosophy of Religion | 18B (Hamilton) |
| A detailed examination of selected issues in the field of philosophy of religion including the idea of God, the problem of evil, religious language and religious experience. | ||
| PHIL309 | Ethical Theory | 18A (Hamilton) |
| A philosophical analysis of moral concepts and the foundations of morality. | ||
| PHIL315 | Democracy, Justice and Equality | This paper will not be taught in 2018. |
| This paper will not be taught in 2018. | ||
| PHIL316 | Philosophy and the Arts | This paper will not be taught in 2018. |
| This paper will not be taught in 2018. | ||
| PHIL350 | Recent Analytical Philosophy | 18B (Hamilton) |
| This paper explores philosophical themes in the theory of reality. Metaphysics is the philosophical study of ultimate reality, and metametaphysics is the enquiry into the status of metaphysics. This paper explores the most generic and foundational features of reality and then asks of these features whether they carve nature at it... | ||
| PHIL390 | Directed Study | 18A (Hamilton), 18B (Hamilton) & 18Y (Hamilton) |
| Admission to this paper is at the discretion of the Philosophy Programme Convenor. | ||
| POLS327 | Political Ideas | 18T (Hamilton) |
| An introduction to a range of issues in contemporary political philosophy, in particular issues relating to questions of justice. The focus is on the examination of arguments and the clarification of concepts. | ||
Prescriptions for the GradCert(Phil) and GradDip(Phil)
A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Philosophy at an advanced level in their first degree.
For further details, contact the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Office.
Prescriptions for the PGCert(Phil), PGDip(Phil), BA(Hons), BSocSc(Hons), MA and MSocSc.
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in graduate Philosophy papers, a student should normally have at least a B average in either the best three of their 300 level Philosophy papers or all their undergraduate Philosophy papers.
To complete a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Philosophy, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including at least 30 points in research (normally PHIL591) and at least 30 points from papers listed for Philosophy.
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MA or MSocSc in Philosophy, a student should have completed either:
a) a BA or BSocSc with a major in Philosophy and have gained at least a B+ average in either the best three of their 300 level Philosophy papers or all of their undergraduate Philosophy papers, or
b) a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Philosophy (or equivalent) and have gained at least a B+ average across all 500 level papers.
Completion requirements for the MA or MSocSc in Philosophy vary according to admission criteria:
Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including PHIL588 and either a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis or a 60 point dissertation.
Students admitted under b) above must complete a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis and a further 30 points from approved 500 level papers, or a 60 point dissertation and a further 60 points from approved 500 level papers.
To be considered for enrolment in a dissertation or thesis, all students must have completed at least 60 points from approved 500 level papers and have gained at least a B average to be admitted to PHIL592, at least a B+ average to be admitted to PHIL593 and at least an A- average to be admitted to PHIL594.
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| COMP543 | Information Management | 18B (Hamilton) |
| One or more special topics in computer science, at an advanced level. | ||
| HIST516 | Historical Theories and Methods | This paper will not be taught in 2018. |
| This paper will not be taught in 2018. | ||
| PHIL533 | Moral and Political Philosophy | This paper will not be taught in 2018. |
| This paper will not be taught in 2018. | ||
| PHIL534 | The Philosophy of Language | This paper will not be taught in 2018. |
| This paper will not be taught in 2018. | ||
| PHIL536 | The Philosophy of Mind | This paper will not be taught in 2018. |
| This paper will not be taught in 2018. | ||
| PHIL541 | Chosen Philosopher: Wittgenstein | This paper will not be taught in 2018. |
| This paper will not be taught in 2018. | ||
| PHIL545 | Aesthetics | 18B (Hamilton) |
| This paper will cover a range of topics in contemporary aesthetics. The class will choose the topics. Possibilities include but are not limited to the expression of emotion in music; the arousal of emotion by music, literature and film; the aesthetic appreciation of nature; is there a single right interpretation of a work of art?; ... | ||
| PHIL552 | Epistemology and Metaphysics | This paper will not be taught in 2018. |
| This paper will not be taught in 2018. | ||
| PHIL560 | Special Topic: Virtue Ethics | This paper will not be taught in 2018. |
| This paper will not be taught in 2018. | ||
| PHIL588 | Foundations of Philosophical Research | 18A (Hamilton) |
| In this paper we engage in focused analysis of a range of philosophical topics relevant to the reserach goals of students. The paper enhances students' knowledge of long standing and contemporary debates in philosophy. Students cultivate their research skills through seminar development and presentation, and gain a grounding in phi... | ||
| PHIL589 | Directed Study | 18A (Hamilton), 18B (Hamilton), 18S (Hamilton) & 18T (Hamilton) |
| Students have the opportunity to pursue a topic of their own interest under the guidance of academic staff. Open to selected students who meet the criteria set out in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Graduate Handbook. | ||
| PHIL591 | Dissertation | 18A (Hamilton), 18B (Hamilton) & 18Y (Hamilton) |
| A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. | ||
| PHIL592 | Dissertation | 18C (Hamilton) |
| A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. | ||
| PHIL593 | Philosophy Thesis | 18C (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | ||
| PHIL594 | Philosophy Thesis | 18C (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | ||
Prescriptions for the MPhil
The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
The requirements for admission to Masters level study in Philosophy are set out in the Faculty Handbook.
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL800 | Philosophy MPhil Thesis | 18C (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | ||
Prescriptions for the PhD
The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL900 | Philosophy PhD Thesis | 18C (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | ||
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Scholarships and prizes
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Subject links
Subject Requirements
Philosophy is available as a major for the BA and BSocSc.
Philosophy is available as a major for the BA and BSocSc. Philosophy may also be taken as a second major or as a supporting subject within other undergraduate degrees, subject to academic approval of the Faculty or School of Studies in which the student is enrolled.
To complete a major in Philosophy, students must gain 120 points above 100 level in Philosophy, including at least 60 above 200 level. It is recommended that students intending to major in Philosophy include at least two 100 level Philosophy papers in the first year of their programme of study.
Before proceeding to 300 level Philosophy papers, students are normally expected to have passed a minimum of four papers in Philosophy, at least two of which are 200 level. Students with appropriate professional experience or academic background who do not meet this requirement may be admitted to PHIL305, PHIL316, PHIL317 and PHIL390.
Please note: For all graduate subject requirements check the information provided in the papers section above.
Documents
Contacts
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4030
General and Undergraduate Email Enquiries: phil-fass@waikato.ac.nz
Graduate and Postgraduate Email Enquiries: phil-grad@waikato.ac.nz