Philosophy (2023)

Philosophy is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), the Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC), and the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc). Philosophy may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

To complete Philosophy as a single major for the BA, BCC and BSocSc, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Philosophy, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level.

To complete Philosophy as part of a double major for the BA, BCC, BSocSc or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Philosophy, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level.

To complete a minor in Philosophy, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Philosophy major, including at least 30 points above 100 level.

On this page

• Prescriptions for the GradCert(Phil) and GradDip(Phil)
• Prescriptions for the PGCert(Phil), PGDip(Phil), BA(Hons), BSocSc(Hons), MA and MSocSc
• Prescriptions for the MPhil
• Prescriptions for the PhD
• 100 Level
• 200 Level
• 300 Level
• 500 Level
• 800 Level
• 900 Level

• Prescriptions for the GradCert(Phil) and GradDip(Phil)

  A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Philosophy at an advanced level in their first degree.

  For further details, contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.

• Prescriptions for the PGCert(Phil), PGDip(Phil), BA(Hons), BSocSc(Hons), MA and MSocSc

  To complete a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Philosophy, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including at least 30 points in research (normally PHILO591) and at least 30 points from papers listed for Philosophy.

  To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MA or MSocSc in Philosophy, a student must have completed either:

  a) a BA or BSocSc with a major in Philosophy (or equivalent) with at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or

  b) a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Philosophy (or equivalent) with at least second class honours (second division), or a PGDip in Philosophy (or equivalent) with at least a B average, and

  c) have satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.

  Completion requirements for the MA or MSocSc in Philosophy vary according to admission criteria:

  Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including PHILO588 and either a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis or a 60 point dissertation.

  Students admitted under b) above must complete a 120 point thesis, or a 90 point thesis and a further 30 points from approved 500 level papers, or a 60 point dissertation and a further 60 points from approved 500 level papers.

• Prescriptions for the MPhil

  The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

• Prescriptions for the PhD

  The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

• 100 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  PHILO102	Introduction to Logic	15.0	23B (Hamilton)
  An introduction to symbolic logic, including formal testing of arguments for validity in propositional logic and predicate logic.
  PHILO103	Critical Thinking	15.0	23A (Online) & 23G (Online)
  This paper helps students to engage critically with the sorts of arguments encountered both inside and outside the University.
  PHILO106	Social and Moral Philosophy	15.0	23A (Hamilton) & 23A (Online)
  An investigation of contemporary moral and social issues from a practical ethics perspective. Issues may include abortion, animal welfare, discrimination, euthanasia, freedom of speech, genetic enhancement, privacy, punishment, and your online life.
  PHILO150	The Big Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy	15.0	23B (Hamilton) & 23B (Tauranga)
  An introduction to philosophy that investigates a range of big questions. The big questions may include: does God exist?, does my morality apply to you?, do we have free will?, what is the meaning of life?, and who am I?.

• 200 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  MAORI202	Ngā Iho Matua: Māori Philosophy	15.0	23A (Hamilton)
  This paper examines the philosophical underpinnings of seminal tikanga Maori concepts, and their influence both historically and in contemporary Maori culture.
  PHILO204	Wisdom, Language, and Communication	15.0	23A (Hamilton)
  Is language the seat of all knowledge and wisdom? The aim of this paper is to explore growing philosophical debates in epistemology and the philosophy of language.
  PHILO205	God, Spirituality, and the Afterlife	15.0	23B (Hamilton) & 23B (Tauranga)
  This paper analyses a range of conceptions of God (Ultimate reality), spirituality, and the afterlife in order to explore our place in the universe and understand different perspectives on the meaning of life.
  PHILO215	Moral and Political Philosophy: A Historical Introduction	15.0	23B (Hamilton)
  This paper introduces students to central issues in Moral and Political Philosophy, using texts from historical figures in philosophy to study questions about virtue, happiness, justice, liberty, democracy, tyranny, feminism, art, censorship, and moral education.
  PHILO217	Environmental Ethics	15.0	23H (Online)
  A study of ethical questions about the relation of humans to the rest of the natural world, including the attribution of value and rights to the non-human world and ethical issues in environment and development.
  PHILO218	Ethics at Work	15.0	23G (Online)
  A study of ethics as it relates to business and professional practice in New Zealand including material specifically for interest groups: eg computer science, psychology and social work.
  PHILO225	Happiness and Wellbeing	15.0	23A (Hamilton)
  Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern science, this paper investigates the meaning and value of happiness, and the role it plays in making our lives go well for us.

• 300 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  ALPSS390	Directed Study	15.0	23X (Hamilton)
  This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their major under the guidance of academic staff.
  EDSOC300	Māori Knowledge and Western Impacts in Education	15.0	23A (Online)
  This paper explores comparisons between key Western and Maori philosophies. It considers how Maori and Western philosophies respectively describe the self's relationship with thought and knowledge in the context of education.
  PHILO309	Experiments in Ethics	15.0	23B (Hamilton)
  The paper uses thought experiments to introduce students to central issues in contemporary moral philosophy. The issues may include: What makes an action right? Are there any absolute duties? Is morality entirely subjective? Is it possible to have moral knowledge? How can we be sure our moral judgments are right?
  PHILO310	Mind, Matter and Consciousness	15.0	23B (Hamilton)
  Are mental states just brain states? If not, what are they? Can we account for consciousness in purely physical terms? PHILO310 covers these central questions in the Philosophy of Mind.
  PHILO315	Democracy, Justice & Equality	15.0	23A (Hamilton)
  This course provides students with an in-depth introduction to contested topics in modern political philosophy. Students will be expected to analyse the theoretical basis of these positions, and to consider the practical consequences of them.
  PHILO317	Environmental Ethics	15.0	23H (Online)
  Do we have moral obligations toward nature? How should human beings treat the natural world? This paper examines questions such as these in light of our current ethical theories.
  PHILO318	Ethics at Work	15.0	23G (Online)
  This is an applied ethics paper focussing on the professions, research and business. It examines contemporary issues relevant to a wide range of occupations graduates might enter.
  PHILO355	The Fundamental Structure of the World	15.0	23A (Hamilton)
  What is there? What makes up the furniture of reality? What about holes, chairs, possible worlds, fictional characters, musical works, temporal parts, races, or genders? These are central questions within metaphysics that we explore in this paper. We also explore higher-level questions: what is it to exist, and how should we go abo...

• 500 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  ALPSS590	Directed Study	30.0	23X (Hamilton)
  This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their major under the guidance of academic staff.
  PHILO533	Moral and Political Philosophy	15.0	23A (Hamilton)
  This paper will cover a range of current topics in moral and political philosophy. The exact content will be guided by choices made in class, but will include detailed analysis of foundational problems in modern political philosophy, and exploration of the intersection of moral and political philosophy in practice.
  PHILO536	The Philosophy of Mind	15.0	23B (Hamilton)
  In this paper we will discuss recent philosophical work on issues concerning consciousness and intentionality.
  PHILO545	Aesthetics	15.0	23B (Hamilton)
  This paper covers a range of topics in contemporary aesthetics, including: What is art? What is the difference between art and craft? Are aesthetic values entirely subjective? Can fictional events give rise to real emotions? How is it possible to enjoy horror?
  PHILO560	Special Topic: Free Will and Moral Responsibility	15.0	No occurrences
  This paper will examine conceptual and empirical issues in the literature on free will and moral responsibility. Topics may include: Does free will or moral responsibility require the ability to do otherwise? If we lack the kind of free will required for moral responsibility, can punishment be justified? Do psychopathy or addiction pose problems for theories of moral responsibility? Have experimental findings shown that we don't have free will or that there are methodological problems with philosophical debates about free will and moral responsibility?
  PHILO588	Foundations of Philosophical Research	30.0	23A (Hamilton)
  In this paper we engage in focused analysis of a range of philosophical topics relevant to the research goals of students. The paper enhances students' knowledge of long standing and contemporary debates in philosophy. Students cultivate their research skills through seminar development and presentation, and gain a grounding in phi...
  PHILO591	Dissertation	30.0	23A (Hamilton), 23B (Hamilton) & 23D (Hamilton)
  A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
  PHILO592	Dissertation	60.0	23X (Hamilton)
  A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
  PHILO593	Philosophy Thesis	90.0	23X (Hamilton)
  An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
  PHILO594	Philosophy Thesis	120.0	23X (Hamilton)
  An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.

• 800 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  PHILO800	Philosophy MPhil Thesis	120.0	23X (Hamilton)
  No description available.

• 900 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  PHILO900	Philosophy PhD Thesis	120.0	23I (Hamilton), 23J (Hamilton), 23K (Hamilton) & 23X (Hamilton)
  No description available.