This module consists of four blocks, each lasting five weeks, and five further weeks in which you'll have the opportunity to think about and discuss the nature of philosophical study. The four blocks are as follows:
Block 1: The aesthetics of nature
What do we mean when we call a piece of nature ‘beautiful’? Do we only mean that we like it? Or is being beautiful an objective fact about it? Is all of nature beautiful? When we ruin a piece of nature, do we make everything alright again if we make it look like how it looked before? This block asks all these questions – plus more – and guides you towards the arguments that will enable you to answer them.
Block 2: Plato’s Meno
Plato’s dialogue, The Meno, is a classic text by one of the founders of Western Philosophy. You will learn how to read and interpret the text by looking at some contemporary interpretations. Such interpretations make vivid the claims and arguments that, even today, underpin important philosophical controversies surrounding the nature of knowledge, the nature of virtue, and whether virtue is teachable.
Block 3: Consciousness
There is perhaps no greater mystery than the nature of consciousness. What is it that we have that sticks and stones do not? What is it to be aware of the world, to experience colours and sounds? Is consciousness a physical phenomenon? If so, what is the relation between a sensation (a feeling of pain, say) and a state of our brain? Drawing on dramatic recent work in the philosophy of mind, this block attempts to throw light on these issues.
Block 4: Global justice
It is a fact that some people in the world have plenty, and other people in the world do not have enough, or barely enough, on which to live. Global justice has always been important in Political Philosophy, but it is emerging as a central issue of debate. This block will go into the history of the debate (since the 1970s) and consider the key current points of contention: who is responsible for how things are? What should we do about it?
Throughout the module, you will engage with key contemporary and classic material. The module will be of interest to those who wish to extend their knowledge and understanding of philosophy and the research methods and perspectives of those working in this field of study.
Although you can gain the Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities from studying this module, it is the first module in the two-part MA in Philosophy. As such, it is preparation for the MA Philosophy part 2 (A854), which culminates in a dissertation. You'll choose the topic for your dissertation, provided it is appropriate to the subjects in these taught modules. This includes all the topics in this module, together with Nietzsche, Foucault and Arendt, the philosophy of mind, and political philosophy, which you would study on A854.
Employers greatly value the skills taught in philosophy courses: the capacity to think well about important issues, assess and formulate arguments, communicate clearly and succinctly, and be an independent and flexible thinker. This module also pays attention to presentation skills and the skills underlying peer interaction and review.
Your tutor will help you with the module work and mark and comment on your assignments. Both modules in the MA in Philosophy are supported with a mix of online tutorial support. You are encouraged to take part in the online tutorials with your tutor and tutor group, as well as the module forum. There will also be events led by course authors. Tutorials will be held throughout the year and can be accessed from any computer with internet access. They are likely to be a blend of asynchronous online discussions, in which you can participate at times of your choice, and synchronous (‘live') tutorials at set times. Further information about tutorials will be provided at the start of the module.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Course work includes:
With the exception of the set text, everything you need to study this module is available online through the module website or through the OU online library. This includes:
Set books:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
A853 is a compulsory module in our:
A853 is an option module in our:
Sometimes you cannot count a module towards a qualification if you have already counted another module with similar content. To verify any excluded combinations with this module, check with an adviser before registering.
MA Philosophy part 1 starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2029.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
You must hold a UK honours degree (or equivalent) in philosophy or a related subject. If you have a degree conferred without honours, or that does not contain at least 20% of philosophy-related subjects, or with relevant experience in this field, you may still be eligible to study this qualification, subject to adjudication by the qualification team.
Although the foundation module, MA Philosophy part 1, will bring you up to date with the latest ideas and approaches, it assumes you'll have the knowledge and skills usually acquired by pursuing the subject at undergraduate level. If you are in any doubt about whether you possess these skills or knowledge, you could study one of our undergraduate philosophy modules first, Investigating philosophy (DA223) or Key questions in philosophy (A333), which are designed to introduce you to standard techniques of analysis and argument. You could also refer to the 'Preparatory work' reading indicated below.
To study successfully for this MA, you need to be able to:
If you're in any doubt about the suitability of your qualifications or previous experience, please contact us before you enrol.
Reading the following will be useful preparation for the MA:
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader (and where applicable, musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way). Other alternative formats of the module materials may be available in the future. Most of the module is delivered online, so you will need to spend a significant amount of time studying from a computer or other screen-based device.
| Start | End | Register by | England fee |
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| 03 Oct 2026 | 30 Jun 2027 | 17 Sep 2026 | Not yet available* |
| *This start date is open for pre-booking, which means you can reserve your place ahead of the fees being confirmed. We’ll publish updated 2026/27 fees and funding information on the 25th of March. |
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate tuition fee loans in Northern Ireland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Scotland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Wales.
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Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.
Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
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We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
