What will I learn?

When you undertake a PhD/MPhil in Philosophy at Liverpool, you’ll benefit from a long history of combining research excellence in core areas of philosophy, with innovative work at the frontiers of the discipline – from politics to spirituality, Chinese philosophy to speculative futures, neo-Platonism to feminism. We value plurality, innovation and creativity.IntroductionPhilosophy explores a set of approaches and methods that can help us to make sense of whatever is puzzling, perplexing or interesting in the world around us. In the Department of Philosophy, our thriving community of postgraduate researchers benefit from our research environment and make an important active contribution to it.While we value our pluralism, we also seek opportunities to work together. Four research groups support our research. When you study with us, you’ll benefit from our programme of visiting speakers, workshops, reading groups and postgraduate activities, and help to foster connections with interdisciplinary research centres and global networks of scholars.Our work also involves collaboration with colleagues in a wide variety of national and international universities and partner organisations. We regularly host visiting researchers from outside the UK and work closely with many partners in the city, including Tate Liverpool, National Museums Liverpool, Open Eye Gallery, NHS North-West and FACT.Research topicsWe welcome research proposals in the following areas:AestheticsAnscombe, Foot, Midgley and MurdochConsciousnessDeath and meaningEnhancement and transhumanismEnvironmental philosophyEpistemologyEthics, including bioethicsFeminist philosophyHistory of analytic philosophyIndian philosophyMetaphysicsMedical ethicsPhilosophy of mindPlotinusPhilosophy of actionPhilosophy of languagePhilosophy of lawPhilosophy of literaturePhilosophy of psychiatryPhilosophy of religionPhilosophy of sciencePhilosophy of time and spacePolitical philosophySelf-consciousnessTranshumanism.Research cultureOur postgraduate research students are an integral part of our research culture and environment. All our postgraduate researchers belong to one of our four department research groups, through which they can participate in a variety of research activities