Faculty of Philosophy. Double Degree with Philosophy

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1 Faculty of Philosophy Double Degree with Philosophy

2 Welcome The Faculty of Philosophy offers highly motivated students the challenge to explore questions beyond the borders of their own discipline by taking a second degree in Philosophy. Where others take given answers for granted you will be trained to ask further and to develop a genuine academic attitude. After all, for academics, asking the right questions precedes giving the right answers. This, however, does not imply that philosophers make a halt when it comes to formulating answers. You 7 will be introduced in the fascinating world of great thinkers, well-known and less known, who have provided substantially insights in humans, knowledge and the grand questions of ethics. When you are not satisfied going for the average and have shown ability to combine the challenge of your principal field of study with broader interests, you might consider to embark on the double degree programme in Philosophy. It will provide you with a unique experience and will put you ahead of your fellow students in exploring opportunities in the world beyond the bachelor. Frank van der Duijn Schouten Dean Faculty of Philosophy

3 Index Double Degree: the programme Testimonial Law & Philosophy student Make the most of your Double Degree What do they think of the Double Degree? After your Double Degree Testimonial IBCoM & Philosophy student What is your ambition? What's next? Colophon Design: Fabrique DTP: PanArt Photography: Levien Willemse and Sanne van der Most No rights can be derived from this document. 3

4 Double Degree: the programme What does it mean to know something? Philosophical questions vary from concrete and practical to very abstract and theoretical. Asking yourself on what basis you accept some and reject other information, is one of those questions. Some other examples of philosophical questions touched upon in the Double Degree with Philosophy programme are: 'What are the implicit assumptions at the basis of science?', 'Do technological developments change us as a human being?', 'What is knowledge?', 'When is an argument valid?' and 'What can philosophers of the past teach us?'. During this programme you will gain substantial knowledge of philosophical problems and theories. Furthermore, you will develop the ability to critically assess presuppositions of your academic discipline. Guided by dedicated lecturers, you will delve into various philosophical topics, ranging from the philosophy of the Enlightenment to post-modern continental philosophy and from ethics to philosophy of science. Two bachelor degrees Once you have finished the first year of any academic bachelor you can enrol in this programme. After four years you will have obtained two bachelor degrees: one for your main programme and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. The philosophy curriculum comprises 90 EC in total and there is no Binding Study Advice. The lectures are held in English, but the exams may be answered in either Dutch or English. To prevent clashes with lectures and seminars of your main programme, all philosophy lectures are scheduled between 6.00pm and 9.30pm. Tutorials are scheduled from 3.00pm onwards, attendance is optional. Flexible programme The schedules indicated on the next page present two examples of how you could spread the course load in case you start your second degree in philosophy during the second year of your main study programme. However, it is perfectly possible and allowed to structure the course load in a different manner, to suit your individual situation. In case you wish to go on exchange, we offer the possibility of taking four courses on a literature basis. These courses are indicated with an (*). No additional tuition fee For the Double Degree with Philosophy programme you do not need to pay an additional tuition fee, as long as you pay tuition fee for your main programme. In case you finish your main programme before finishing the philosophy programme, you pay the statutory tuition fee, which amounts to 2060 in Students who have advanced beyond the first year of their main programme, can start a second degree in philosophy as well. 4

5 Schedule A Year 1 Main study Year 2 The Early Enlightenment Quest for Man I Year 3 Essential Contemporary Challenges General Philosophy of Science* Technology and Social Change* Thought Experiments Critical Creative Reasoning* Critique* Year 4 The Quest for Man II Analytic Metaphysics Descartes and Spinoza Aesthetics Philosophy Thesis Ecophilosophy The High Enlightenment I-II Social, Political and Moral Philosophy I-II Philosophy of a specific EUR-discipline Schedule B Year 1 Main study Year 2 The Early Enlightenment Essential Contemporary Challenges Ecophilosophy Social, Political and Moral Philosophy I-II The Quest for Man I-II Thought Experiments The High Enlightenment I-II Year 3 General Philosophy of Science* Technology and Social Change* Analytic Metaphysics Aesthetics Critical Creative Reasoning* Critique* Descartes and Spinoza Year 4 Philosophy of a specific EUR-discipline Philosophy thesis 5

6 'Law gives you the solution, Philosophy the insights.' Law & Philosophy Maylin Jacobs When you study law, whenever a problem is brought up to your attention, it is up to you to fix it. That is, to find possible legal solutions. Many of these solutions have their basis in law but there are always a few aspects that might make you question your well found and sometimes (necessarily) cunning solution. Everything is done within the legal borders, and loopholes. You present your solution without any second thoughts, awaiting the gratification you so deserve, not thinking about any internal implications of your solution. You are a legal professional, come what may, but sometimes you can t help but wonder: I know I am right, but is it right? Philosophy forces you to reflect upon your decisions, to not only question what is legal, but also what is (morally) right. 7

7 Make the most of your Double Degree T he Double Degree with Philosophy programme, being an excellent academic challenge, attracts students with many different backgrounds from all programmes of the Erasmus University. This results in a diverse and lively community of students looking to engage with each other on both an intellectual and social level. Keep an eye out for community building initiatives for Double Degree students, as well as other opportunities such as joining or contributing to ERA or ESJP. Erasmus Student Journal of Philosophy The Erasmus Student Journal of Philosophy (ESJP) is a philosophical journal that offers students of the Faculty of Philosophy the opportunity to publish their philosophical writings. Also, motivated philosophy students can gain editorial experience by joining the board of this journal. ERA ERA is the student association of the Faculty of Philosophy, organising activities such as monthly drinks and the so-called 'pub lectures', film nights, music nights and study related events. Every year ERA organises a philosophical study trip. Among previous destinations are Istanbul, Paris, Vienna, London, Krakau and Budapest. ERA members can also order their study books with a discount and receive the faculty's magazine 'Twijfel' for free. 7

8 Dialogue Wiep van Bunge Professor History of Philosophy Philosophers are interested in concepts and ideas about man, the world we inhabit, and the way in which we shape our lives. Historians of philosophy study the history of these concepts. Few periods in the history of philosophy are as relevant today as the Enlightenment, in which a new sense of modernity was coined, which is still very much part of our present outlook on ourselves, the wider world, and society. In the courses on the Early and the High Enlightenment some of the main protagonists of the Enlightenment will be discussed as well as some of its main critics. 8

9 Jamie van der Klaauw Public Administration & Philosophy After having finished a bachelor degree in Public Administration at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, I was lacking depth, an awareness of the origin of those concepts with which I had struggled daily, such as: 'what is a people?', 'what is representation?' and 'why do we have policy?'. Luckily, the Faculty of Philosophy offers the Double Degree with Philosophy programme, an excellent addition to any degree. Through the Double Degree I could discover the roots of many of the concepts I dealt with. I discovered that a thorough understanding of the ideals of the Enlightenment proved instrumental in grasping the political concepts we deal with today. 'I discovered the roots of the concepts I deal with.' 9

10 After your Double Degree K nowledge and skills A degree in philosophy is an excellent complement to any other academic degree. Studying philosophy is not in the first place about obtaining as much knowledge as possible, but rather about developing new ways of thinking. Therefore, in the current age of uncertainty and rapidly advancing technologies, knowledge of philosophical problems and skills is more relevant than ever. After you finish the Double Degree with Philosophy programme you will be able to: analyse and interpret philosophical questions; reason in a logical and consistent manner; discuss historical and modern currents within philosophy; think in an interdisciplinary and conceptual way; build a clear and convincing argument; develop a conceptual framework; write a well-structured text. Your career Having two bachelor degrees increases your employability in almost every sector and gives you a head start when searching for a job. Your background in philosophy will provide you with an awareness of the theoretical foundations of your discipline. This allows you to pose relevant questions, come up with innovative solutions and go a step further than others. Doubling your degree with philosophy will prove valuable and rewarding on both a personal and professional level. 10

11 This captivating programme has completely changed the way I view the world. IBCoM & Philosophy Nico Heidari Tari It only took a promotion to convince me to join the programme. Even though I didn t have any idea what it would bring me, now, it feels like I ve received a brand-new set of eyes that can find order in the chaos called life. Occurrences and events that used to seem random, weird or just illogical, suddenly start to make sense. Patterns emerged, and with a new, rich assortment of concepts I can now describe them. Imagine that you can go around and find hidden meaning in everyday activities that have remained concealed until now. Imagine that you'll have the discursive tools necessary to take a firm position with 7 regards to the puzzling enigmas that have vexed mankind for several millennia. My main programme IBCoM merely scratched the surface area of related philosophical inquiries and since I was struggling with precisely these questions, philosophy was a tremendous addition to my scientific understanding in general. If I haven t convinced you yet, here are some random benefits of doing the double degree: you will make tons of new friends, your English will improve dramatically, it looks phenomenal on your cv, your interest in art will increase, your academic knowledge will double, you will find interest in even more scientific disciplines, et cetera. The list goes on and on!

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13 What's next? I nterested? If you want to learn more about our programme and application procedure, please visit our website: In case you have any questions about the Double Degree with Philosophy programme, please contact our student officer Evaline Bender. She can also put you in touch with one of our current Double Degree students, who can share their experiences with you. Tel.: +31 (0) filosofie@fwb.eur.nl. Social media Follow us on social media and learn about our events. Watch videos: Stay updated: Follow us: Vist campus from your phone in our online experience 13

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