Ancient Philosophy MSt

University of Oxford

The MSt in Ancient Philosophy is a one-year, full-time taught graduate course offering graduate training in ancient philosophy of high quality, and aims to provide a foundation on which you can go on to pursue doctoral work in the area. This course is not available in part-time mode of study and is not offered via distance learning.

Teaching and learning on the MSt in Ancient Philosophy normally consists of individual supervisions with members of the faculty during term-time, classes and lectures, and ongoing independent research.

During the course, you will take two subject options. The first must be chosen from the following list of undergraduate papers in ancient philosophy:

• Plato: Republic
• Plato on Knowledge, Language & Reality in the Theaetetus and Sophist
• Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics
• Aristotle on Nature, Life and Mind
• Knowledge and Scepticism in Hellenistic Philosophy
• Latin philosophy

Tuition for these subjects is offered in the form of supervisions, as well as lectures and classes.

The second subject option consists of two classes, which change every year, and you must attend both classes. In the last four years, the following classes have been on offer, which give an idea of the sort of subjects that have been tackled: Plato on Education, Happiness and Time in Ancient Philosophy, Seneca’s Moral Letters, Aristotle’s Defence of Natural Slavery and its Legacy, Techne in Ancient Philosophy, Vice in Ancient Philosophy, Virtue and Eros in Stoic Philosophy, The Ontology of Action: Aristotle and After, The Stoics on Emotions, Plato and Aristotle on Truth, Prudence in Aristotle’s Ethics, Sophistry and Fallacy in Plato and Aristotle, and Plato’s Political Philosophy.

Finally, you will write a thesis of 10,000 to 15,000 words on a topic you have chosen in consultation with the course coordinator and a prospective supervisor.

In a typical fortnight during term-time, a student can expect to spend around one hour receiving one-to-one supervision, between four and eight hours attending ancient philosophy seminars, and up to six hours of Ancient Greek tuition (voluntary). This translates as around 20–30% of a full-time working week. Students can expect to spend the remaining time on self-directed study.

It is not a course requirement for students without any (or with little) Ancient Greek to attend the language classes currently run by the Faculty of Classics, but it is highly recommended that they do so, as being able to read philosophical texts in the original language is an advantage for Ancient Philosophy students. Students with intermediate or advanced Greek may choose to attend more advanced Ancient Greek classes.

Each term many graduate classes and research seminars are organised by faculty members in which graduate students are full and important participants.

Moreover, during term-time the Faculty of Philosophy normally offers a weekly workshop that allows members of the faculty and graduate students to discuss work in progress in ancient philosophy by speakers from Oxford and elsewhere. All graduate students specialising in ancient philosophy are encouraged to attend this workshop.

You may also decide to attend any graduate or undergraduate classes, seminars and lectures in and outside of the Faculty of Philosophy which are of interest to you, provided those classes, seminars and lectures are open to you.