Philosophy and Politics

Philosophy and Politics is a combination that addresses the deepest questions about how human societies should be organised, how power should be constrained and what values should guide public life. Philosophy, in its moral and political dimensions, asks foundational questions about justice, freedom, equality and democracy, developing the tools of logical analysis and ethical reasoning that allow these concepts to be examined with rigour. Politics examines how power is actually distributed and exercised, how institutions function, how policies are made and contested, and what forces shape political outcomes in the real world.

The two disciplines are natural intellectual partners, each enriching the other.

At the University of Essex, this full-time three-year programme gives you a sound academic grounding in both disciplines, developing your ability to bring the resources of moral and political philosophy to bear on real political questions and to evaluate political reality through a philosophically informed lens. You will engage with the major thinkers and arguments in both fields, from Plato and Aristotle through Hobbes, Locke and Mill to contemporary debates in political theory and analytical philosophy. The programme develops your capacity for rigorous argument, clear writing and the kind of principled engagement with difficult questions that is increasingly valuable in public and professional life.

Philosophy and Politics graduates go on to careers in politics, the civil service, law, journalism, policy research, NGOs, international development, academia, broadcasting and think tanks. The analytical and argumentative skills the degree develops are highly valued by employers across many sectors, and the combination of principled philosophical reasoning with an understanding of political realities makes these graduates particularly effective in roles where values, strategy and practical judgement must be brought to bear together. Many go on to postgraduate study in political philosophy, political science, law or public policy.