what is philosophy at LSE like?

as the title says.. what is the philosophy (of logic and scientific method)
course like?
does anyone take it?
how is the reputation of the course?

Reply 1

recurring

I'd like to know this as well :smile:

Reply 2

pixies89

Hey there, I'm a first year doing Philosophy, Logic & Scientific Method, am a little too drunk to give any sensible information atm but PM me or something or I'll reply soon- Carys

Reply 3

fundamentally

candystrippa

how is the reputation of the course?

I have no idea about its reputation, but I would imagine that it is stellar.
The most influential philosophers of science in the known universe worked at the LSE.

Karl Popper, Imre Lakatos and Paul Feyerabend were faculty members/students there.
http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/LSEHistory/popper.htm
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/lakatos/

Reply 4

Hewins

candystrippa

as the title says.. what is the philosophy (of logic and scientific method)
course like?
does anyone take it?
how is the reputation of the course?

The dept goes in for very hard-nosed Anglo-American analytical philosophy, with an emphasis on the philosophy of science. Popper, Feyerabend, Lakatos: these are the great names it's housed and they are very big time names in their particular area. Of course Popper's work spreads out from the study of scientific method into social philosophy as a whole. In this respect the name of the maverick philosopher/sociologist Ernest Gellner, a former member of the department, should also be remembered.

Also,on a more colourful note, the department is a leading centre for the study of evolution and social theory. It has close connections with a galaxy of famous names across British intellectual and cultural life, from Richard Dawkins to Ian McEwan (they come to seminars and debates etc). This has attracted major media attention, especially via the activities of Helena Cronin.

The School as a whole has a strong philosophical history, way beyond its specialist department, ranging across its different subject areas, and representing a variety of viewpoints, from Bertrand Russell to Malinowski, to Oakeshott, to Hayek, to John Gray or Ulrich Beck.

Reply 5

candystrippa

is there a LOT of work?

Reply 6

jacky1129

candystrippa

is there a LOT of work?

Good question, I also want to ask!! :biggrin:

please somebody!!

candystrippa

please somebody!!

I can only speak for the first term or so but...

We have to do formal logic, which people with no mathematical background tend to find more difficult and wierd, but then I quite enjoy it.

Introduction to Philosophy is quite a general introductory course (funnily enough), I've found the teaching and teaching to be very good and interesting, it has a strong ananlytical basis though as reflected by the BSc nature of the degree - there's really no fluffiness or whimsical speculation to be had... Saying that, we don't have to do masses of reading & I wrote only 2 1500 word essays for PH103 last term.

I think the course is very well respected, I noticed in the Times (or maybe the Guardian) Philosophy was ranked 9 or 10 out of 10 for employment prospects, and yes, people with philosophy degrees from LSE do still go on to do Investment Banking...