Elective Modules

Philosophy students wishing to take an elective module should first check the rules of their programme to see if they are allowed to take electives in other departments. They should then consult the University's Electives page to see who they should contact about elective modules available in other departments and complete the first two parts of the Elective Module Form (MS Word , 23kb) before emailing it to carol.dixon@york.ac.uk.

Philosophy Elective Modules Running in 2022/23:

In principle, any student from any department may enquire about taking a Philosophy module as an elective, provided that their programme allows them to take electives and provided that they meet any prerequisites for the module. Students will not be allowed to take a module that would cause a clash with the modules from their home department(s).

The Philosophy Department recommends the following modules as electives:

First Year

All mainstream first-year modules are recommended to students from all departments as electives:

Reason and Argument A (20 credits)

Reason and Argument B (10 credits)

Early Modern Philosophy A (20 credits)

Early Modern Philosophy B (10 credits)

Ethics (20 credits)

Knowledge and Perception (20 credits)

Ancient Philosophy (10 credits)

Introduction to Metaphysics (10 credits)

Second Year

Aesthetics (20 credits) or Aesthetics (short) (10 credits) are recommended as electives to students from any department.

Ethical Theory (20 credits) or Ethical Theory (short) (10 credits) are recommended as electives to students from any department.

Feminist Philosophy (20 credits) or Feminist Philosophy(short) (10 credits) are recommended as electives to students from any department.

Intermediate Logic (20 credits) or Intermediate Logic (short) (10 credits) are recommended as electives to students who either have an A-Level in Mathematics, or who are from any of the following departments: Mathematics; any Natural Science; Computer Science; Cognitive Science; Engineering; Economics. Note that students who have not taken Reason & Argument are advised to complete the Philosophy MOOC on Logic in the Summer before the start of 'Intermediate Logic'.

Lived Experiences: An introduction to Phenomenology (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from any department.

Metaphysics (20 credits) or Metaphysics (short) (10 credits) are recommended as electives to students from any department.

Philosophy of Mind (20 credits) or Philosophy of Mind (short) (10 credits) are recommended as electives to students from any department.

Philosophy of Science (20 credits) or Philosophy of Science (short) (10 credits) are recommended as an elective to students from any of the following departments: any Natural Science; Cognitive Science; Mathematics.

Politics and Freedom: Anarchism and Conservatism (20 credits) or (10 credits) are recommended as electives to students from any department.

Third Year

Cognitive Anomalies, Decision-making, and Democracy (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from any department.

Foundations of Maths (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from any department but is particularly suitable for students from Maths.

Grief and Loss (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from any department.

Happiness, Utility and Well-Being (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from any of the following departments: Psychology; Sociology; Economics; Politics.

Mind and Morality (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from any department.

Philosophy of Christianity (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from any department.

Philosophy of Physics (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from Physics.

Philosophy of Psychology (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from Psychology.

Please note, places on undergraduate modules are subject to a maximum enrolment number.

MA (Masters)

Advanced Topics in Political Philosophy (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from Law, and Politics.

Merleau-Ponty and Phenomenology (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from any department.

Non-Classical Logic (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students who either have some prior training in formal logic, or who are from the following departments: Computer Science, Language and Linguistic Science, Mathematics, Physics.

Philosophical Theology after Maimonides (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from any department.

Philosophy of Poetry (20 credits) is suitable as an elective for students from a literature or arts-based background such as Language & Linguistic Science, English and Related Literature, History of Art, or Music.

Science-Engaged Analytic Theology (20 credits) is suitable as an elective for students with a background in Psychology or Physics.

Social Justice and Political Economy (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from Law and Politics.

The Arts and the Mind (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from any department.

The Phenomenon of Loneliness (20 credits) is recommended as an elective to students from any department.

Please note, the availability of each MA option module is subject to both a minimum and a maximum enrolment number.

If you would like to take an elective module in philosophy, please complete the first two parts of an Elective Module Form (MS Word , 23kb) and email it to carol.dixon@york.ac.uk. You are advised to sign up for the full number of option credits in your own department(s) initially as places on elective modules will only be confirmed fully once the timetable is released. This is to ensure that students are not signed up for electives which clash with their main timetable.