Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives (BA)
About the programme
Philosophy is about the Big Questions: do human beings have free will? Is capitalism a just system? Does science provide an objective picture of the world? At Leiden, you will investigate fundamental questions of this sort from a global perspective. Through careful examination of different philosophical world traditions, you will develop the skills to navigate the complex world of the present and to tackle scientific and societal problems.
Programme overview
In year one you’ll take 10 compulsory courses that will introduce you to a range of philosophical subjects and traditions. You will find some examples here.
Philosophy of Culture
The first part of this course reviews some of the main concepts of culture, including culture in the context of development, episteme, habitus, worldview, and society. It then moves on to address questions of cultural transformation and cultural interaction, including conceptual constraints on projects relating to interculturalism and multiculturalism.
World Philosophies: India
An introduction to pre-modern Indian philosophical schools, including the traditions of Buddhism, Jainism, Yoga and Vedānta, as well as early thoughts from the Vedas and Upanisads. This course will broaden your horizons by opening up a dialogue with the “other” of ancient India. Topics include the justification and means of valid knowledge (pramānas), the role of scripture in knowing, the (non)existence of a self (ātman) and the study of virtuous character.
World Philosophies: Modern Europe
An introduction to the history of philosophy in 17th and 18th century Europe, a period commonly known as the era of ‘modern philosophy’. The ideas of the most important philosophers of this period will be addressed: Bacon, Hobbes and Descartes, as well as the ideas of later figures as Spinoza, Hume, and Kant. The course discusses a number of issues, including the nature and foundations of morality and knowledge, freedom and determinism, and the concepts of subjectivity and objectivity.
Logic
An introduction to formal logic, covering propositional and predicate logic, proof theory and major concepts, such as truth, validity, and fallacy. You will learn how to translate informal arguments into formal language, and how to identify fallacious reasoning.
In your second year, to complete your basic training in philosophy, you will take five compulsory courses. In the second half of the year, you will take a core course in intercultural philosophy, as well as follow an individual program of seminars and core courses. The first semester of year three will be a discretionary space. In your final semester, you will take two advanced seminars of your choosing and write your thesis.
Christa Laurens
Alumna bachelor Philosophy and master Modern European Philosophy
"In Philosophy, you learn to articulate your thoughts clearly and also you are trained to ask questions without immediately seeking answers or thinking in solutions, something which is highly valued in my current work environment. Another useful skill I picked up during my studies is the ability to switch between different subjects and to see how they relate to one another. I find this adaptability particularly useful in the work I do."
Fanrong He
First year student
"This programme is unique in that it teaches comparative philosophy in depth, taking non-Western perspectives into account. Other programmes that I looked into tend to focus mainly on the Western perspective. Something else that I really like is that the teachers are very friendly and open to exchanging ideas with the students outside of the classes. Also, they are willing to offer advise if you have questions about, for instance, the next steps in your study."
Stephen Harris
Teacher
“A great feature of our programme is that it builds upon Leiden’s strong tradition in political and continental philosophy by adding work from Asian and Islamic thinkers. Alongside Plato, Heidegger and Rawls, students can study the thoughts of the Buddha, Nāgārjuna, Confucius and Avicenna."
Tim tells you everything about the Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives programme
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If you take on the Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives bachelor’s programme, be prepared to put in a full working week of about 40 hours. Of this, an average of 20 hours will be spent in the classroom, attending lectures or tutorials, for example. The rest of these hours will be spent on independent study. Each lecture will be focused on a particular topic, and complemented by tutorials in which the material will be discussed in greater depth and with more student input, such as individual or group presentations.
Student support
Do you need support during your study? We make sure to offer our students the support they need. A mentor will be at hand to offer the help or advice that you need.
Should you have any questions about the programme, our study advisor is available to provide advice or help you make practical arrangements if needed.
Apart from study advice, we offer many more support services. Our Career Services can help you arrange a study abroad or find an internship position.
In case of psychological issues, a university psychologist can be consulted. In the event of chronic illness, dyslexia or a physical or psychological disability, you can contact the university’s Fenestra Disability Centre.