At times, the study of philosophy can feel somewhat abstract and remote from the real-world, but in reality, much of the work of philosophy experts involves applying philosophical methods, ideas, concepts and arguments to real-world problems. We look for practical solutions. Philosophy can be usefully applied to a surprisingly wide range of areas such as professional ethics (as in business, communications, medicine, the media, the sciences and the armed forces), law, policy-making, economics, education and the social sciences.

In this module you will learn about topics in applied philosophy and practice the transferable skills that Philosophy graduates can bring to professional roles. These include critical problem solving, political and ethical reasoning, the clear identification of problems and communicating potential solutions to diverse audiences.

Explore how real-world phenomena can be understood using macroeconomic models. This module will help you understand macroeconomic data and examine the implications of economic policies in both closed and open economies.

By the end of the module, you will be able to interpret macroeconomic events and tackle macroeconomic questions using the concepts and methods presented in lectures and tutorials. We will focus on major issues related to economic growth, the causes of economic fluctuations, and the effectiveness of economic policy.

Political and economic affairs raise many philosophical issues. Political theory and philosophy primarily explore normative questions (for example, about the nature of justice and freedom). In this module you will focus on epistemological and methodological challenges, which also have huge significance for how we think about our societies and the challenges they face.

Concepts such as democracy or autocracy, taxation or national debt, power or economic growth – all are complex and contested.

• They raise metaphysical questions: what sorts of ‘things’ are they?
• They pose epistemological challenges: how can we know or measure them?
• They lead you to ask: is it possible to study them without making assumptions about values?
• They provoke the consideration: how do large-scale political and economic phenomena relate to individual people and their activities?

Through considering these questions, you will gain an understanding of the special challenges involved in knowledge of our social, political and economic systems, and how philosophical thinking complements the tasks of political science and economics.

The nineteenth-century was a period of transformative changes in thinking and society. There was a new attention to history and the idea of historical progress, and to philosophical engagement with industrial capitalism and the rise of socialism. The period was marked by the struggle for the abolition of slavery and growing interest in its philosophical dimensions, as well as criticisms and defences of Christianity, atheism, secularism.

You will explore these issues through a diverse range of thinkers. They will vary from year to year but typical examples include:

• G. W. F. Hegel
• Ludwig Feuerbach
• Harriet Martineau
• Karl Marx
• Friedrich Nietzsche
• Frederick Douglass
• Sojourner Truth
• Arthur Schopenhauer
• Frances Power Cobbe
• Annie Besant
• Søren Kierkegaard

You will read and analyse the original texts as well as recent interpretations, and you will learn to articulate and evaluate the central arguments made by historical figures. By the end of the module, you will be able to discuss the philosophical questions raised by a range of nineteenth-century authors, present their ideas in a balanced and well-informed way, and formulate your own conclusions on the issues.

Buddhist philosophy is one of the most enduring, voluminous and influential philosophical traditions in the world. In this module you will encounter some of the most central and well-known Buddhist concepts, texts and thinkers.

In addition to analysing core ideas, such as not-self, dependent origination, emptiness and Buddha nature, you will examine themes that pervade the study of Buddhist philosophy in its various contexts, such as the relationships between teaching and practice, philosophy and literature, and religion and politics. Through reading original Buddhist texts in translation, you will cultivate skills in critical thinking and interpreting primary sources.

In addition to developing the ability to engage in informed argument about key topics in the study of Buddhist philosophy, you will also learn to be reflective about the challenges of studying philosophy from different cultural contexts and time periods.

This module aims to expand your knowledge on the topic of inequality and its relationship with the macroeconomy. It will introduce you to the measurement and analysis of inequality data, along with the underlying theory. The module also gives a brief overview of potential policy solutions to these issues.

The topics covered include:

• skill accumulation
• discrimination
• luck
• mobility
• wealth accumulation
• the role of bequests

The goal is to stimulate critical thinking by applying theoretical concepts to real-world examples and data.

You will be introduced to the key concepts, tools, and methods in environmental economics, along with several key policy applications of these topics. This module will equip you with the skills to analyse pressing environmental issues and explore potential solutions in terms of choices, trade-offs, and scarcity.

The topics covered include:

• property rights and externalities
• benefit-cost analysis
• pollution control
• climate change
• dynamic efficiency and sustainability
• resource depletion
• ecosystem services
• management of natural resources such a fisheries

This module introduces the core concepts and methods of econometric analysis and their applications in economics. It examines different types of economic data and how to handle them, the specification of econometric models, and their estimation and testing, with a focus on the classical linear regression model.

We will take an intuitive and practical approach, emphasising the application of econometric techniques to real-world data as well as the interpretation and evaluation of the results, and the ways in which they can be used to inform business and policy decisions.

An important part of the module is training in the use of specialised econometrics software. There will also be a segment dedicated to experiential learning, allowing you to gain practical experience while working with an employer.

This module is designed to enhance your strategic thinking skills. You will learn how to use games to model real-world strategic situations, and how to analyse and solve these games in scenarios where players are intelligent and rational.

The module covers:

• normal form games
• extensive form games
• Bayesian games
• games with correlation devices
• repetitive games
• behavioural games

Additionally, you will have opportunities to play these games with your instructor and classmates. A basic understanding of algebra, calculus and economics is necessary for this module.

From financial meltdowns to rising inequalities, from environmental breakdown to the looming automation revolution, global capitalism appears to be in a state of permanent uncertainty. Studying the global economy has never been more urgent.

In this module we’ll ask:

• Are states at the mercy of global corporations?
• Can capitalism survive the climate crisis?
• Is Western economic dominance coming to an end?

You will explore the historical evolution, major transformations and possible futures of global capitalism, drawing on the insights of its defenders and its critics. Crucially, the module casts light on the unequal power relations structuring the global economy and the ways existing patterns of trade and production impact development opportunities in the Global South.

Through both theoretical engagement with competing political economy perspectives and the study of real-world developments, you will learn to analyse the social challenges posed by the evolution of global capitalism and assess the limits of contemporary economic governance.

In this examination of the evolving landscape of global power, we identify the forces challenging the world’s leading nations and explore the fluid nature of influence in the 21st century.

We will analyse the shifting balance of power, explore the relative decline of traditional superpowers and the simultaneous rise of new actors on the global stage.

You’ll be encouraged to consider how economic, military, and cultural influence is being reconfigured in a multipolar world, reshaping traditional understandings of world order. Crucially, we will also analyse the internal and external pressures these powers face, form rising regional actors, to the evolving nature of global threats, and the erosion of traditional power structures.

Through different case studies and theoretical frameworks, you will gain a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between rising and established powers and the implications for global stability and future orders.

Explore the key challenges of contemporary leadership and governing in the fast-changing, interconnected world of the 21st Century. From a comparative perspective, you will critically assess the extent to which political actors – whether individual or institutional – control their own destinies or are constrained by the globalised context within which they are operating.

Key themes will include:

• Comparing sources of government legitimacy between authoritarian and democratic states
• Political leadership styles and strategies
• Political communication
• Variation in the impact of globalisation on the capacity and resources of states
• The EU and transnational political institutions
• The changing role of political parties

You will gain an understanding of the core principles and values of comparative analysis and develop the skills to critically engage with evidence from different types of comparative case study. The module will develop your understanding of the impact global trends have on local and national political actors.

You will be introduced to key concepts from microeconomic theory and their application to consumer and firm decision-making. We begin with an overview of how firms make decisions under different market structures, different pricing structures, along with the welfare implications of these choices. Next, you will learn how consumers make decisions and how they respond to price changes.

Our focus then shifts to strategic behaviour, incorporating a game-theoretic approach. We will also cover the significance of hidden information and hidden action. Additionally, we will discuss issues related to the modern business organisation, such as various models of auctions.

Finally, you will cover topics such as externalities, public goods, rent-seeking behaviour, and related policies.

This module introduces the functioning of the global business environment and the implications for business. It uses relevant conceptual and analytical economic tools grounded in international political economy.

You will cover a range of important topics in international economics, including globalisation, the determinants of trade patterns and trade policies, exchange rate determination, the global factory and global supply chains, the growth of emerging economies, international knowledge flows, regionalism, and climate change.

Create a portfolio of investigative and critical writing which explores a particular philosophical topic in depth. In this module you will be guided with expert support from a contemporary philosopher to develop your philosophical and independent study skills. Through deep engagement with a narrow topic you will develop your ability to assess philosophical arguments and make independent judgements, informed by reasoning and evidence.

In this module you will engage with a text, problem, figure or body of work chosen by an academic within the philosophy team at Lancaster who is a specialist on the topic. You will work with their expert support, in groups and independently.

Project topics offered each year will be drawn from one or more of Lancaster’s many areas of expertise, such as:

• Ethics
• Metaphysics
• Political philosophy
• Applied philosophy
• Social ontology and epistemology
• Philosophy of science
• Philosophy of mind
• The history of philosophy
• Feminist philosophy
• Continental philosophy
• Global philosophy
• Comparative philosophy

The module will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need for further independent writing in your final year of study.

The exploration of philosophical views about the mind is a highly active field on the interface between contemporary philosophy and science.

We will begin with the mind-body problem, that is, how the mental relates to the physical. We will cover key positions on this problem, such as substance dualism, Wittgensteinian ‘dissolving’ approaches, mind-brain identity theory, functionalism, and extended/embedded cognition.

We will also consider the implications of different views on the mind-body problem, such as:

• Could a computer think?
• Can we have a full understanding of how consciousness is possible?
• How can we tell if non-human animals, or even plants, have minds?

In addition, we will cover some of the problems around how we know about mental states:

• Can we be sure of our own mental states?
• How can we find out what other people are thinking or feeling?
• What are the limits of our abilities to understand beings with minds very unlike our own?

What is the role of science in enabling us to make sense of the world? In this module, we explore a series of interconnected questions that lie at the heart of the philosophy of science:

• What distinguishes science from other ways of knowing?
• Is there a scientific method?
• Is science the most reliable way to acquire knowledge?

Throughout the module, you will examine the influential ideas of key twentieth-century philosophers of science, such as Karl Popper's theory of falsifiability and Thomas Kuhn's concept of paradigm shifts. These thinkers challenge traditional views and lay the groundwork for ongoing debates.

Building on their ideas, you will explore contemporary discussions on scientific theories, the nature of scientific progress, and the relationship between science and other forms of knowledge. By the end of the module, you will have gained a deeper understanding of the proper role and limits of science.

Public policy defines our lives. It determines who gets what, when and how. This module gets to the heart of the power relations of policymaking by applying a critical lens to understanding policy.

You will examine how ideas, interests and institutions shape policy, and who wins and who loses from its formulation. We’ll explore critical theories such as feminism, decolonisation, Marxism and anti-racism, to understand the power dynamics in public policy.

We’ll touch on the key questions such as:

• Who decides what is a policy problem?
• Who bears the burdens or benefits of policy?
• Is evidence-based policy achievable?

By the end of this module, you will be able to apply critical thinking skills to analyse local and global challenges such as social inequalities and the climate crisis.

This module offers a critical introduction to the complex political landscapes of regions in the Global South, exploring how historical, economic and social forces have shaped contemporary states and societies.

You will examine colonial legacies and their lasting influence on political institutions, and the impact of external interventions on regions. The module also investigates the consequences of neoliberal economic reforms, the challenges faced during democratization processes, narratives of ‘development,’ and the dynamics of armed conflict and peacebuilding.

Consideration is given to grassroots activism as well as the role of regional integration and cooperation in shaping political and economic outcomes. Through these themes, you will develop a sophisticated understanding of power, resistance and development in the Global South.

Gain the skills you need to complete independent research in Politics and nternational Relations. Direct your own learning by developing a research project on your chosen topic. Throughout the module, you will develop knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative research methods, and you’ll analyse a large quantitative political dataset using various methods to test for statistically significant relationships between variables.

You will learn about three major approaches to qualitative research that will prepare you for future independent research work:

• How to conduct interviews
• How to analyse the discourse of political actors
• How to conduct comparative case studies

You’ll find that the skills you develop during this module will be a useful asset when seeking employment as a Politics graduate.

Politics is one of the most widespread and most diverse phenomena of human experience. Yet it is often studied by relying on concepts, theoretical resources, and methodological approaches derived from a single intellectual tradition. This module seeks to reverse this trend by introducing you to philosophical perspectives emanating from different intellectual traditions on a particular topic.

The topic will vary from year to year. It may have to do with how democracy, modernity, secularism, pluralism, rights, or political legitimacy have been construed in different settings, for example.

The philosophical traditions you engage with will also vary from year to year, but may include Chinese, Continental, Indian, Islamic, analytic, African, Feminist, postcolonial, and/or decolonial perspectives. In addition to learning about different philosophical traditions, you will also reflect on the challenges of studying philosophy comparatively and engaging with philosophical traditions that derive from different cultural settings, developing a broader critical understanding of political community and life.

Discover key thinkers from what is known as the ‘continental’ tradition of philosophy. In different ways, these thinkers have critiqued the assumptions and methodologies of the western philosophical tradition, as well as its development in Anglo-American philosophy. The particular philosophers considered will vary from year to year, but will include thinkers who have been particularly influential (for example, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Wittgenstein) as well as more recent continental thinkers (for example, Lyotard, Derrida, Levinas, Žižek, Foucault, Arendt and Beauvoir).

You will engage with original texts, as well as secondary literature, in order to understand and interpret their central arguments. The approach will be predominantly critical rather than historical, encouraging you to assess their distinctive claims, methods and approaches and their wider contribution to philosophy.

This module is designed to promote independent learning and allow you to apply the knowledge and skills from your degree to understand and analyse contemporary policy issues. You will be able to independently produce both written and verbal reports on current policy topics that are accessible to policymakers and senior managers in both the private and public sectors. The content of this module will focus on contemporary issues. In the past, topics have included:

• Is government debt a burden for future generations? What is the value of a degree?
• How are interest rates set? Business support during the pandemic: Essential support or fraud?
• How should we pay for social care? How can we help the long-term unemployed?
• What has been the impact of Brexit and Covid-19 on international trade?

An important exploration of the key issues and challenges facing contemporary democratic states and movements in the 21st Century.

Arguably, modern democracy faces multiple challenges such as:

• The rise of populist movements
• Democratic backsliding
• Declining public trust in leaders and political institutions
• Globalisation and transnational government
• New forms of authoritarian leadership
• Increasing repression of dissent and protest

Taking a comparative approach, we will explore how these evolving challenges have impacted the politics of both democratic and authoritarian states, and we will evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies that have been taken to address them.

Using the skills in both research and comparative analysis that you have developed during the programme, you will carry out your own independent research and contribute to contemporary academic debate on the prospects for democracy.

This course focuses on the economics of growth and development, both from a theoretical and empirical perspective. Using examples from developing countries, it explores wide-ranging, policy-relevant topics such as investments in health, education and infrastructure, microeconomics of credit markets, corruption and other determinants of economic development.

Data science is transforming the role of information technology in society and in many sectors in which economists work. Machine learning and big data methods have gained popularity as tools in academic, government, industry, and beyond.

You will be introduced to big data and machine learning techniques with a focus on economic applications. These techniques are already significantly impacting the field of economics for modelling economic relationship, drawing causal inferences, and making predictions. They will soon become a standard toolbox for economists.

Examine two of the world’s most important powers - the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) – and a transatlantic alliance that was forged post-war and remains one of the most important globally despite current challenges.

The module provides an introduction to the EU’s normative power and its attempts to upload its distinctive European values internationally before looking at the US as the pre-eminent global superpower. In particular, the dynamics of EU-US relations will be explored and scrutinised. How has the Trump presidency affected the relationship between Brussels and Washington? What are the long-term prospects for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), still of vital importance to Central and Eastern Europe states? As Europe increasingly turns to security issues, how realistic is President Macron’s proposal for a European army to replace long-established American hard power?

This module builds on the foundations of monetary and fiscal policy analysis by placing policy decisions in a global context. The first part of the module emphasises the interpretation and analysis of macroeconomic data. You will learn how to apply empirical methods to understand fluctuations in output, employment, inflation, and trade balances.

The second part focuses on the design and coordination of monetary and fiscal policy in an interconnected world. Special attention will be given to the challenges that central banks and governments face in managing global shocks. The topics covered will include international policy spillovers, exchange rate regimes, capital flows, and the evolving role of institutions such as the IMF and the Bank of England. We will explore real-world applications and current policy debates throughout the module.

This module tackles issues in economic growth and development, with reference to key concepts, theory and empirics. In the first half of the module, we will take a macroeconomic perspective on the key growth challenges facing developing countries. This will include competing theories of growth, industrialisation, institutions and trade policy.

In the second half, the module shifts to several microeconomic topics that examine the behaviours of households and individuals. Key issues covered will include poverty, inequality and anti-poverty policies, education, health, microfinance and credit markets, and risk and insurance.

This module provides a comprehensive exploration of international trade and global business dynamics, connecting theoretical models with practical policy implications. You will examine core trade theories including the Ricardian model, Heckscher-Ohlin model, and heterogeneous firm models. The module also offers in-depth analyses of international factor mobility, trade policies, and globalisation trends.

On the international business side, you will study key topics such as global value chains, multinational firm strategies, international competitive advantage, and the economic impacts of outsourcing and offshoring. The module focuses on real-world applications, exploring how theoretical frameworks inform understanding of contemporary economic phenomena, including labour productivity, attitudes towards trade, the effects of immigration, and the evolving landscape of global economic interactions.

This module offers a comprehensive exploration of labour and health economics, examining critical microeconomic dimensions of human capital and market dynamics. You will analyse labour market fundamentals including supply, demand, market policies, and workforce challenges such as unemployment, migration, and discrimination. The curriculum extends to education economics and personnel economics, investigating principal-agent problems and incentive structures within organisations. In addition, the module provides economic tools to critically examine healthcare systems, with a focus on the UK National Health Service and international healthcare models, emphasising empirical evidence and microeconomic analysis.

This unique module is delivered in partnership with the UK Parliament. You will interact directly with MPs, parliamentary officials and clerks, while exploring vital questions of policy formation and constitutional reform.

In recent years the existing Parliamentary institutions of the UK have come under unparalleled stress. Brexit, devolution and declining public trust in politics have led many people to question the fundamental structure of UK political institutions. However, Parliament remains at the centre of political life in the UK and is fundamental to the development of public policy. This leads to key questions about the extent to which the UK Parliament is fit for purpose as a 21st century policy-making institution.

This is an opportunity to gain important professional skills in communication and policy analysis, as you evaluate the parliamentary policy-making process and critically analyse topics such as House of Lords reform, devolution and representation.

In this module you will consider some of the most fundamental questions of existence and ethics. What are you? That is, what is the self? A representation, a subject of experience, a bundle of experiences, an agent, an organism, a person?

We will take a curated path through these interconnected questions, and work together to understand, develop, and communicate answers to questions such as:

• Is the self one thing or many? Or is it nothing, because there is no self?
• Which kinds of things have selves or might be considered to be persons? Only humans, or also non-human animals, artificial intelligences, aliens, corporations, nation-states?
• Is the self found or made? And what does that mean for how we should live?
• Which things have moral standing or rights or responsibilities?
• How do you stay the same through time and change?
• Is self-knowledge valuable?
• What is the good life for a person?

From public philosophy articles online to science communications, from funding bids to policy advisory notes, academic philosophers regularly engage with, inform and persuade audiences outside the field of academic philosophy. To do so, they need to provide compelling, clearly-stated arguments; understand their target audience; and tailor their material to the audience they seek to impact.

You will develop and implement these practical philosophical skills on this module. Choosing from amongst the wide range of philosophical specialisms at Lancaster, and working closely with your academic supervisor to develop a question and relevant reading materials, you will first develop your own philosophical claim or perspective on a topic.

You will then participate in a series of structured workshops where you’ll develop and practice skills in writing for diverse public audiences, present and discuss your ideas and drafts with peers, and work towards the completion of a portfolio of pieces of public-facing philosophy. This module is an opportunity for you to take the philosophical skills and content you have learned over the course of the degree and use them to communicate important ideas beyond the field of academic philosophy.

Develop a philosophical dissertation: a substantial piece of independent research that demonstrates critical thinking, deep analysis, and original insight. You will identify a specific philosophical topic from the wide range of research specialisms within Philosophy at Lancaster and, together with your dissertation supervisor, develop a clear research question. You’ll engage with relevant primary and secondary texts to construct a compelling philosophical argument over a sustained piece of writing.

Complete your undergraduate student journey by demonstrating that you can expand on the knowledge base you have developed through your degree and use the philosophical skills you have gained to produce your own independent work in philosophy. Acquiring advanced research skills will prepare you for both further academic study in philosophy and for professional roles that require skills in research, critical thinking and independent thought.

Together, we create a social world. This world is made up of:

• Groups and institutions such as nations, corporations and educational institutions
• Social products and structures such as money, marriage and class
• Collectively produced outcomes such as global climate change, wars and revolutions, and viral hits and memes

It is a world created by us through language, beliefs and our combined actions and choices, but – at the same time – it cannot easily be changed or ignored and has enormous power over our lives and reality.

In this module you will investigate how exactly our social world is created, sustained and changed, and the ethical and political impacts of this for our lives, and those of others. You will take part in some of contemporary philosophy’s newest and most lively debates in the fields of social ontology, social epistemology and collective ethics, and have the chance to make your own contributions to these new and still-developing fields of research.

You will leave the module with a greater understanding of the complex metaphysical, epistemological and ethical challenges that our social world compels us to address.

Examine key philosophical questions raised by warfighting, from ancient traditions to contemporary debates, and explore some of the central dilemmas faced by soldiers, governments, and non-combatant groups.

You will learn about the ethics of fighting and killing within diverse Just War and critical traditions as well as political, jurisprudential and experiential dimensions of war.

This module will allow you to build on your past studies to develop your knowledge of philosophy and enhance your critical evaluation and argumentative skills by addressing questions such as:

• Can war be beautiful?
• When, if ever, should we go to war?
• What counts as legitimate action in war?
• What, if anything, do we owe to our enemies?
• Is soldiering a good life?
• What does technological development mean for warfare?
• And who has the epistemic authority to speak about war?

Investigate an area of Politics and International Relations that is of particular interest to you by carrying out a detailed research project. The topic may be inspired by a module you’ve taken, or it may be less directly linked to course work but of special appeal to you.

The dissertation is an extended piece of written work and a chance to develop your research skills and your ability to work independently. You will be assigned an academic supervisor who will have some familiarity with your chosen topic. They will support you through the different stages of the dissertation, from developing your research design, to confirming your research question and working out the best methodology.

Complete your undergraduate student journey by demonstrating that you can apply the critical thinking and research skills you have learned to sharp political analysis of your own.

Public policy analysis is the study of government’s role in the economy. It involves examining both its normative and positive aspects. To gain a comprehensive understanding, we look at a combination of theories, empirical findings, and real-world examples.

We begin by focusing on public goods such as water, transportation, and other infrastructure that the government can provide directly or in collaboration with the private sector. This includes looking at the practice of regulators, as well as cost-benefit analysis. We evaluate the trade-off between efficiency and fairness, then examine state financing, including theories of optimal taxation and recent research on tax evasion and avoidance. Finally, we delve into the internal structure of government, exploring political economy and fiscal federalism.

Why do we see gaps between what politicians say on immigration and what they do?

In the United Kingdom and in most of the Global North the movement of people across international borders is a key political issue of our time. The public, researchers and politicians across the political spectrum participate in passionate debates about immigration. Political parties make strong claims about how they would “manage” or “cut” migration, recognising that it is a key voting issue.

Meanwhile, the systematic study of human movement supplies us with robust evidence concerning such questions as:

• Is migration desirable or not?
• How should we understand its effects on origin and destination countries?
• How to address it in policy terms?
• Is migration a matter of human rights?
• Can border control be reconciled with respect for the rights of people on the move?

The module draws on cutting edge research in political science, international relations and similar fields. It equips you with fact-based evidence so that you can confidently participate in the ongoing societal debate on what it means to inhabit a world on the move.

We are living in an era of accelerating crises – of democracy, capitalism, environment, and governance itself – that are reshaping the 21st century global order. In this module you will examine these intersecting crises and their uneven social, political and economic impacts.

Moving beyond traditional political analyses, the module offers an original perspective on the complex interplay of technological disruptions, economic instability, health emergencies and geopolitical shifts. Informed by critical public policy, political economy and sustainability debates, the module explores how different actors, from international institutions to grassroots movements, attempt to contain these crises and how they are transformed by them.

Our understanding of power, security and governance is being reshaped by a world where crisis has become the norm. You will assess competing understandings and responses to ongoing challenges through in-depth case studies of specific crises, critical debates around their nature, and forward-looking research about their possible trajectories.