- I chose to study philosophy
'cause it really felt like
the fundamentals of every other subject.
It's the one topic that
gives you new tools
of how to think as well
as allowing you to explore
a vast history of wonderful thinkers.
- Philosophy is such a unique subject
because it can be so
comforting and therapeutic,
but at the same time, it can be, you know,
very exciting and wondrous,
and, sometimes even a
little bit scary as well.
And I think to, you know,
experience all these things,
in the subject that you
study is just a privilege.
- We get to look at classical thinkers
such as David Hume and Thomas Aquinas.
But then we also look at
more modern thinkers such as,
like Judith Butler, and Karl Popper.
- You're often coming across
different aspects of culture,
different belief systems,
different moments in history
that you wouldn't otherwise come across.
And you're repeatedly being,
you're compelled to understand
another's argument, you
know, another's perspective
and even if it's just for
the sake of criticising it.
And I think that's a
really good skill to have.
- While studying philosophy at Newcastle,
each year, you get to do a project,
which is essentially a dissertation.
You pick an area you'd like to research
normally outside of philosophy,
such as something in media
or in politics, and you explore that area
using philosophical ideas or key thinkers.
- For example, what I did
was piracy, online piracy,
which is very much an everyday phenomena.
And then you try to look at it
from a philosophical perspective.
So you'll use philosophers
and their concepts and ideas
to try and explain why that phenomena
is actually happening in the real world.
- What I enjoy about
our undergraduate degree
is the freedom I get.
I feel that there's a vast
choice in modules to choose from.
- I chose Newcastle because of the city
and also 'cause of the module content,
and it also had a very good reputation.
- I think the course has actually
excelled my expectations.
I was really excited to study philosophy.
And that I knew nothing about
the university experience
before I came.
And, but I found the freedom that you get
to, you know explore what you
personally are interested in
is brilliant, the staff
are really friendly.
And it's just a really nice
environment to be part of.
- I think one of the things
about philosophy students
or philosophically minded people is that
there's not that many of us
and most people in their everyday lives
don't want to think about
philosophical topics.
So if you do have that kind of mind,
it can be quite tricky to
find like minded people
and that's where the degree helps so much.
- I think philosophy is the
type of subject that does,
you know, it does inspire
debate and it very rarely stops
at the seminar door.
And we have a philosophy
society, and in which every week
we have a different topic,
and so there'll be a
debate there, but yeah,
the social side aim of the
subject is really good too.
- Newcastle is a great city to live in.
It's always really busy,
it's always full of life.
There's always things to do,
and it's a very friendly city.
- This is easily the best
city I've been to in UK.
Everyone is so friendly,
so down to earth, helpful,
it's just, it's amazing city.
