Masters degrees in Mental Philosophy examine the philosophy of thinking and the mind, covering topics such as cognition and mental reasoning.
Related postgraduate specialisms include Epistemology, Mind and Language. Entry requirements typically include an appropriate undergraduate degree such as History, Philosophy or Psychology.
Philosophy of the Mind explores the mind-body paradigm, analysing the ways in which the brain is related to the mind, aiming to pinpoint what consciousness is and assessing issues such as free will.
Dualism and monism are the two major competing philosophies in this field. The former asserts that the mind and body are two separate entities, while the latter posits that the mind and body are not distinct ontological entities.
Within these schools of thought (no pun intended), you may investigate the ways in which mental states drive our actions, and explore emotional responses to various situations. Or, you might explore differences in mental perceptions, for example colour. Fields outside of Philosophy like cognitive neuroscience could also form part of the syllabus.
Careers are highly varied for Mental Philosophy students, and may include roles in academia and publishing, journalism and broadcasting, and even the development of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).
