Oxford PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) Students and Applicants

Anita,

As far as I know, metaphysics is about describing or systematizing (or discovering, depending on your point of view) reality "beyond physics". So The Forms might be immaterial but Plato argues that they are in fact more real than our shadowy existence. Kant's moral law also employs metaphysical argument. It tends to be the case that metaphysics is more continental whereas epistemology is "analytical" philosophy. In my experience, metaphysics can be extremely difficult to understand because the language (most often Germanic or French) seems so foreign (even in translation).

Epistemology is concerned with what can be known. For example, an epistemological question might be: "How do I know that there really is a pen on this table?" Descartes argued that sometimes we are deceived by our senses and this led him to doubt everything except the fact that he was thinking leading to his famous revelation: cogito ergo sum. Descartes could be certain that if nothing else, at least 'he' existed. I am currently reading Austin's 'Sense and Sensibilia' which is a wonderfully lucid and short introduction and discussion of the more modern perspectives on the subject. It really is a very good book - I would recommend it to anyone. :smile:

I think that 'Theorising the Democratic State' is part of the politics course entitled 'Theory and Practice of Democracy'. It is more fully described on the first page of this guide. 'Theorising ...' involves looking at the arguments and beliefs of past thinkers such as Mill, de Tocqueville, Rousseau, Hobbes and Machiavelli on the subject and thinking about questions such as "What is the ideal state?" The other part of the course deals with the workings of the constitutions of various countries (Britain, America, France etc.)

Reply 121

ashley_oakes

thanks for the post, its really helpful!
i got an invite to a PPE interview at Exeter yesterday, and i've been trying to find out about its structure...if possible, could someone please answer the following questions?
- how does Exeter arrange the interviews? (eg. one politics and econ, one philosophy)
- when do you find out about which interviews you have?
- does the college provide you with 3 meals a day? (i get really hungry!)
- will the interviews have standard questions (why do you want to come here, what are your strenghts and weaknesses, what can you contribute to Oxford/Exeter?) or are they more technical and subject based?
thanks :biggrin:

Reply 122

zxczxc

11

I don't think anywhere has "standard" questions in any significant quantity, and they won't be used, if they are indeed asked, to determine whether you get in or not: they're simply to ease you in, if need for that be.

Reply 123

RxB

1

don't know how exeter does the interviews
you'll be told when they are by the college when you get there
yes
technical/subject based qs

Reply 124

London Prophet

OP

17

Bump (Considering I keep getting e-mails from people who've read the thread something must be right about it)

Reply 125

confuddled101

Again, just to say thank you so much for all the info in this post!! Im considering doing PPE at oxford next year, and this has cleared up a lot of questions and simplified the whole process greatly! Does anyone have any suggested reading in the light that i will be applying next year> im currently studying Economics but while i read a broadsheet and the economist regularly, my philosophy and politcs ideas could do with a little more knowledge and reading. Very awkwardly put!! Thanks

bump

Just a question about the PPE Exam:
Has anyone ever /would it be possible to - use the three words in a sentence, in order to explain the differences between them, as well as defining them?

eg/ clarify, explain, interpret: When asked to explain the causes of democracy, I began by clarifying that democracy was a subjective term (so it's causes are linked to what an individual sees as democracy), and interpreted the question to mean 'what factors are needed for democracy to thrive'.
(A terrible example - and not one I thought through)

I can define words with relative ease, but when it comes to highlighting the differences, it doesn't come as naturally...(maybe it's just my intelligence level *shrugs*). How does everyone else find this part of the exam? How would you answer my example?

Reply 128

octanethriller

2

Queen_A

Just a question about the PPE Exam:
Has anyone ever /would it be possible to - use the three words in a sentence, in order to explain the differences between them, as well as defining them?

eg/ clarify, explain, interpret: When asked to explain the causes of democracy, I began by clarifying that democracy was a subjective term (so it's causes are linked to what an individual sees as democracy), and interpreted the question to mean 'what factors are needed for democracy to thrive'.
(A terrible example - and not one I thought through)

I can define words with relative ease, but when it comes to highlighting the differences, it doesn't come as naturally...(maybe it's just my intelligence level *shrugs*). How does everyone else find this part of the exam? How would you answer my example?

Hmm I would say: To clarify a theory for instance (or any matter) is to elucidate the elements that form this theory so that they are more coherent and accessible. To explain a theory on the otherhand is to state those elements that form the theory and elaborate on their meaning; to simply define the theory. To interpret a theory is to construe the theory and its significance; this is to an extent a subjective exercise.

That's what I'd put. I'm not taking PPE myself but am looking to apply next year.

Reply 129

Queen_A

10

I'd be inclined to disagree with the 'clarify' example you gave. If you were to replace 'clarify' with 'simplify', it would be just as logical.

Reply 130

octanethriller

2

Queen_A

I'd be inclined to disagree with the 'clarify' example you gave. If you were to replace 'clarify' with 'simplify', it would be just as logical.

I was thinking of it in terms of that when you offer a clarification you are usually trying to clear up something that it is unclear. Usually this is done by simplyfying it?

Hmmm Isn't simplify a synonym for clarify anyway?

Reply 131

London Prophet

OP

17

octanethriller

I was thinking of it in terms of that when you offer a clarification you are usually trying to clear up something that it is unclear. Usually this is done by simplyfying it?

Hmmm Isn't simplify a synonym for clarify anyway?

my answer would be:

To explain a proposition is to enhance and elaborate upon it, adding more information. To clarify a proposition is to rearrange it in order to remove any misunderstanding that could arise, it is unlikely more information will be added. To simply a proposition is to reduce it to a more concise format, which will involve removing its lesser important elements.

Reply 132

London Prophet

OP

17

Queen_A
(not sureabout its agreement with Plato's idea but literally the words mean)

Metaphysics: Study of the nature of existence - What is the nature of our existence
Ontology: Study of Existence - What it is to exist
Epistemology: Study of Knowledge - What it is to know something

Metaphysics is often branched into Ontology, Theology and Logic

Reply 133

FarEastGerman

Hi, I'm a prospective PPE applicant at Magdalen. First of all, thanks to all those who supplied all this great info, especially Tom for starting this thread with that superb guide. As you can see, am quite in awe.

Concerning the PPE exam: how important is it to the overall application? Or, for that matter, is there a general rule of thumb by which to compare the relative importance of PS, submitted work, test, interviews?

I personally would suspect, with the lengthy process, that it's quite individually based? Or is that just me trying to get my hopes up...I guess one should try one's best in all of them regardless.

2 more sleeps!....

Reply 134

fatboy06

1

Tom Holder

my answer would be:

To explain a proposition is to enhance and elaborate upon it, adding more information. To clarify a proposition is to rearrange it in order to remove any misunderstanding that could arise, it is unlikely more information will be added. To simply a proposition is to reduce it to a more concise format, which will involve removing its lesser important elements.

Only by implication I'd have thought - not by definition. Sorry, I'll crawl back to to music corner :wink:

Reply 135

Queen_A

10

Tom Holder

my answer would be:

To explain a proposition is to enhance and elaborate upon it, adding more information. To clarify a proposition is to rearrange it in order to remove any misunderstanding that could arise, it is unlikely more information will be added. To simply a proposition is to reduce it to a more concise format, which will involve removing its lesser important elements.

. That's brilliant (probably why you're at Oxford studying PPE!). Thank you so much, I think I'll approach them in a similar way (i.e. relate them to one thing, in this case a proposition, and go from there).

Thanks again!

bump

OP

FarEastGerman

Hi, I'm a prospective PPE applicant at Magdalen. First of all, thanks to all those who supplied all this great info, especially Tom for starting this thread with that superb guide. As you can see, am quite in awe.

Concerning the PPE exam: how important is it to the overall application? Or, for that matter, is there a general rule of thumb by which to compare the relative importance of PS, submitted work, test, interviews?

I personally would suspect, with the lengthy process, that it's quite individually based? Or is that just me trying to get my hopes up...I guess one should try one's best in all of them regardless.

2 more sleeps!....

I would say interview is the most important for most tutors, exam, PS and submitted work depend on the tutor.