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Philosophy at NUI, Galway

Philosophy questions the basis of human knowledge, conduct, and value. The subject has been taught at Galway since the university's opening in 1849, and the established Professorship of Philosophy has been in existence since 1914. It is held currently by Paul Crowther. Our Department carries out teaching and research in all the main philosophical subject-areas and historical periods. However, we offer something special besides.

In recent years, the Department has developed strength in philosophical work that attends closely to the impact of globalization and new technologies. The transformations associated with these have profound ethical and aesthetic implications, and impact also on questions of personal, cultural, and national identity, as well as on debates concerning knowledge and metaphysics.

Our relevant strengths in these areas include the following:

Bio-ethics, and professional ethics. (The Department hosts COBRA - Ireland's only dedicated research centre in bioethics.)
Problems of violence, community, and the exploitation of resources
Philosophy of art and culture - especially visual aesthetics
Philosophy of science and technology
All aspects of existentialism, phenomenology, and hermeneutics (especially Nietzsche, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Levinas and the interpretation of religious experience)
The history of Irish thought

Each member of staff is research active, and we have published work of international significance in all the aforementioned areas, and more besides. There are 8 full-time members of staff and over 800 undergraduate BA and Diploma students.

There is a very active student Philosophy Society, and a regular Departmental Seminar that includes contributions from distinguished visiting speakers.

We have also a lively Postgraduate community of around 30 students (8 of whom are doing PhDs). In addition, each semester we welcome over 100 students from overseas. Classes are offered to students from a wide range of subjects. In addition to the BA General Arts, our teaching also includes classes and supervision for students reading for the MA in Philosophy: Ethics, Culture and Global Change, M.Litt., Ph.D., Undergraduate Medical Programme MB, B.Ch., B.A.O., Master of Medical Science, B. A. in Nursing Science, BA Economic and Social Studies, BE Bachelor in Engineering, Higher Diploma in Arts Administration.

Studying philosophy at NUIG allows for a rigorous and disciplined investigation into fundamental questions under the guidance of internationally recognized scholars. Students learn to comprehend difficult material quickly and accurately, to think clearly and critically, and to write and speak persuasively. This is an excellent training for post-graduate study in law, medicine, social service, politics, philosophy or other related academic fields. Furthermore, in today's world of fast-paced change, business leaders and management teams are increasingly looking to philosophy students for their ability to think flexibly and critically.

For the Introduction to Philosophy webcast please visit the following site and click on Philosophy: here

For reasons why you should study Philosophy at NUI, Galway see here.

For a list of famous people who have studied Philosophy see here.

And remember to check out our Internet Links page for more information.

Department of Philosophy, 19 Distillery Road
National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)91 492382, Fax: +353 (0)91-494554,
Email: Philosophy Department
This page was last updated Tuesday, January 26, 2010