Philosophy and Italian

Philosophy and Italian is a degree that pairs one of the most rigorous traditions of analytical and critical thinking with the language and culture of a country that has been central to the development of European thought, literature, and the arts. Philosophy trains you to reason carefully about foundational questions concerning knowledge, reality, ethics, language, and the nature of mind. Italian gives you access to a rich literary and intellectual tradition and to the contemporary culture of one of Europe's major nations.

At the University of Oxford, the study of philosophy develops analytical rigour and the capacity to criticise and reason logically, applying those skills to questions that range from how we acquire knowledge and form moral judgements to the nature of language, art, and literature. The philosophical dimension of this degree illuminates the intellectual background against which much of Italian literature was written, since many works are shaped by the dominant philosophical ideas of their epoch. You will read Italian texts in the original language, developing fluency and accuracy alongside the close reading skills that both disciplines demand.

The degree runs over four years on a full-time basis.

The combination of languages and philosophy develops one of the most sought-after skill sets available to arts graduates: the ability to read closely, argue precisely, communicate clearly in more than one language, and think with genuine rigour about complex problems. Graduates move into careers across law, journalism, policy, the civil service, academia, publishing, international business, and the diplomatic service, among many other fields. Postgraduate study in philosophy, linguistics, Italian studies, or comparative literature is also a natural continuation for those who wish to pursue academic research or deepen their expertise in one of the two disciplines.