Global Philosophies & Worldviews and Philosophy & Ethics

GLOBAL PHILOSOPHIES & WORLDVIEWS

*course is subject to validation

The Global Philosophies and Worldviews course explores big questions of truth, value and what it means to be human in a world-spanning perspective. From African philosophy to Chinese ideas of ethics and the good life; from Hindu explorations of the soul to Islamic political thought; from Jewish existentialism to Buddhist mysticism: these are the traditions that continue to evolve and shape the modern world.

You will journey beyond the limits of European and Western-centred ways of thought. You will learn to study and assess radically different ways of thinking with sensitivity, care and intellectual rigour. A key question will be whether truth is one or many. Are there grounds for shaping a universal ethic and common standards of truth – or are such global ideals always colonial and destructive of differences?

Studying Global Philosophies and Worldviews develops your ability to critically engage with diverse perspectives and misunderstood traditions. This degree prepares you for careers that require cultural understanding and engagement with different communities, such as journalism, law, politics, education, policing, and human resource management.

PHILOSOPHY & ETHICS

The Philosophy and Ethics course at Hope explores life’s biggest questions and the nature of morality: on what basis do we judge things as good or evil? It challenges you to examine your assumptions, opinions, and worldview. Key questions include: Do we need to believe in God for life to have meaning? What does it mean to be human? Do we have free will, or is life determined?

This philosophy and ethics course uses primary texts by philosophers like Plato, Aquinas, Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Nietzsche. You will learn to analyse and evaluate arguments. Also, you'll enhance your ability to express your ideas clearly. You will learn the basics of philosophy. As you advance, you'll study topics like religion, political philosophy, and applied ethics. You'll also explore modern issues like human personhood, artificial intelligence, ecology, and animal rights.

Studying in Liverpool provides a rich cultural context for exploring the human condition through art, performance, and social life. The course at Liverpool Hope is contemporary and timely, particularly in applied ethics and the study of religion in the modern world.

This philosophy and ethics course gives you the skills to tackle ethical and ideological challenges today. You'll prepare for many jobs that need critical thinking and the ability to handle complex, conflicting ideas.

Hear what a Philosophy & Ethics student has to say about the course.