Philosophy has been taught and studied continuously at the University of Melbourne since 1881, and the Department is accordingly one of the oldest and best established in Australia. The Department is renowned for promotion of an eclectic and wide-ranging approach to philosophical issues. It has earned an international reputation for excellence in research and teaching in all of the core fields of the discipline, as well as in less traditional but burgeoning areas of philosophical inquiry and debate. Graduates of the Department have been recruited to positions in Universities worldwide, and in government, industry and the arts. The Department also provides an articulated structure of higher degree study for students who wish to further pursue their interests in this exciting field.
Philosophy deals with the fundamental aspects of reality and value.
It tackles questions that lie outside the scope of any of the more specialised disciplines such as physics, mathematics or history, or which the specialised disciplines suggest, but cannot themselves adequately answer. Despite the abstract nature of many of the problems it encounters, philosophy looks for answers that can only be justified by the highest standards of argument and rigour. Philosophy at Melbourne is wide ranging in scope and covers core topic areas such as ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, feminism, political and environmental philosophy. Prerequisites There are no prerequisites for first year philosophy subjects. Students who have done suitable alternative first year subjects are advised to consult with the head of department for permission to enrol.