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MA Philosophy part 1

The module will introduce you to graduate-level philosophy through the study of four varied and interesting areas: the beauty of nature; a classic text in Ancient Philosophy – Plato’s Meno; the nature of consciousness; and issues surrounding global justice. Your tutor will guide you through issues such as conducting independent research, and you will have ample opportunity to liaise with fellow students online. There is also a comprehensive tutorial strategy that involves both tutors and module team authors. The module encourages independent thought and independent study using the huge range of online books and articles available via the OU Library. You can use this module to extend your studies in the subject or to change to philosophy from another discipline.

Vocational relevance

Employers greatly value the skills taught in philosophy courses: the capacity to think well about important issues, to assess and formulate arguments, to communicate clearly and succinctly, and to be an independent and flexible thinker. In addition, this module also pays attention to presentation skills and the skills underlying peer interaction and review.

Qualifications

A853 is a compulsory module in our:

A853 is an optional module in our:

Excluded combinations

Sometimes you will not be able to count a module towards a qualification if you have already taken another module with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this module, visit our excluded combination finder or check with an adviser before registering.

Module

Module code
A853
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
60
Study level
Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU postgraduate modules correspond to these frameworks.
OU Postgraduate
SCQF 11
FHEQ 7
Study method
Distance learning
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

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 it 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.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

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.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.

Course work includes

3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment

Future availability

MA Philosophy part 1 starts once a year – in October. This page describes the module that will start in October 2025. We expect it to start for the last time in October 2028.

Regulations

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.

Entry requirements

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:

  • write clear, concise, accurate prose
  • read large quantities of text quickly, accurately and critically
  • classify evidence precisely and assess its value and reliability
  • argue logically, consistently and sceptically
  • marshal various sorts of evidence to support a logical argument.

If you’re in any doubt about the suitability of your qualifications or previous experience, please contact us before you enrol. 

Preparatory work

Reading the following will be useful preparation for the MA:

  • Glenn Parsons, Aesthetics and Nature, Bloomsbury, 2023.
  • Plato, The Meno. Many editions are available.
  • David Chalmers, The Conscious Mind, Oxford University Press, 1997.
  • Thom Brooks (ed.), The Global Justice Reader, Wiley-Blackwell, 2008. Particularly sections IV-VII.

Register

Start End Fee Register
04 Oct 2025 Jun 2026 Not yet available

Registration closes 18/09/25 (places subject to availability)

Register
This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2028.

Future availability

MA Philosophy part 1 starts once a year – in October. This page describes the module that will start in October 2025. We expect it to start for the last time in October 2028.

Additional costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

Ways to pay for this module

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding.

Study materials

What's included

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:

  • a week-by-week study planner
  • module materials
  • primary and secondary sources
  • interactive audio and visual material
  • a range of scholarly resources including journals and electronic books.

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

Materials to buy

Set books

  • Warburton, N. The Basics of Essay Writing Routledge £16.99 - ISBN 9780415434041 This item is print on demand, please allow 3 weeks for receipt following your order

If you have a disability

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. 

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.

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