Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford facts for kids
The Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford is a leading place to study philosophy at the famous University of Oxford. It was officially started in 2001 and is part of Oxford's Humanities Division, which focuses on subjects like history, languages, and arts. You can find the faculty building next to Somerville College on Woodstock Road.
In 2021, the Faculty of Philosophy was ranked as the best in the UK and second-best in the English-speaking world by the Philosophical Gourmet Report. It was also ranked fourth globally by the QS World University Rankings. Other guides like the Complete University Guide, the Guardian, the Times, and the Independent also ranked it as the top philosophy department in the UK.
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A Look Back: History of Philosophy at Oxford
Even though the current Faculty of Philosophy was founded in 2001, the teaching of philosophy at Oxford goes way back to medieval times! Before 2001, it was part of a larger group called the Faculty of Literae Humaniores (which means "humanities" or "liberal arts"), founded in 1913.
Today, the Faculty has more than 50 full-time philosophy experts. Many other part-time or retired members also contribute. It's a big team dedicated to exploring deep questions about life and knowledge.
Many famous thinkers have studied or taught at Oxford. These include important philosophers like John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jeremy Bentham. More recently, people like Mary Midgley, Iris Murdoch, and Derek Parfit have been part of Oxford's philosophy scene.
Some very famous philosophers have also visited Oxford to give special lectures. These include Noam Chomsky, Saul Kripke, and Hilary Putnam.
The Faculty has several special professorships, which are important teaching positions. These include:
- The White's Professorship of Moral Philosophy (started in 1621)
- The Waynflete Professorship of Metaphysical Philosophy (started in 1859)
- The Wykeham Professorship of Logic (started in 1859)
- The Professorship of Ancient Philosophy (started in 1966)
- The Uehiro Professorship of Practical Ethics (started in 2003)
Henry Wilde Prize
The Henry Wilde Prize in Philosophy is a special award given out every year. It celebrates students who show outstanding performance in their philosophy studies.
Research Centres: Exploring Big Questions
The Faculty of Philosophy is home to several research centres. These centres focus on specific areas of philosophy and try to answer some of the world's biggest questions.
Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics
The Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics was started in 2003 by Eiji Uehiro. Its main goal is to encourage discussions and deep thinking about "practical ethics." Practical ethics looks at moral questions in real-life situations, like how we should use new technologies or treat animals.
Every year, the centre hosts the Uehiro Lectures, a series of three talks on practical ethics. The centre also works to help the public understand ethical issues better. They do this through public talks, media appearances, and giving advice in the UK and around the world. The current director of the centre is Roger Crisp.
Future of Humanity Institute
The Future of Humanity Institute (FHI) was founded in 2005 by Nick Bostrom. Its purpose was to study how new technologies, like advanced artificial intelligence (AI), might affect the future of humanity. They looked at potential risks to our species.
The Institute closed on April 16, 2024. Its final report mentioned that it faced increasing challenges with the administrative rules within the Faculty of Philosophy. The Institute's flexible and fast-moving way of working did not fit well with the more rigid rules and slower decisions of the larger organization.
Global Priorities Institute
The Global Priorities Institute was founded in 2018. This institute focuses on a very important question: "how to do the most good." Researchers here explore how we can use our resources and efforts to have the biggest positive impact on the world.
Who's There Now: Notable Current Members
- John Broome
- Roger Crisp
- A. C. Grayling
- William MacAskill
- Jeff McMahan
- Toby Ord
- Janet Radcliffe Richards
- Julian Savulescu
- Timothy Williamson
Who Was There: Notable Past Members
- Isaiah Berlin
- Nick Bostrom
- Sir Michael Dummett
- Ronald Dworkin
- Philippa Foot
- R.M. Hare
- Iris Murdoch
- Derek Parfit
- Amartya Sen
- Bernard Williams
