Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
Academic Staff
Dr Krister Bykvist, a Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy, teaches in Mill's Moral Philosophy, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Ethics, and Philosophy of Religion. His research interests lie in normative ethics, especially topics about well-being.
Dr Stuart White is a Fellow and Tutor in Politics who teaches the Theory and Practice of Democracy, the Theory of Politics, Classical Political Thought, the Foundations of Modern Social and Political Thought and Marxism. His research interests lie in normative political theory, public policy and the history of political thought.
Dr James Tilley, also a Fellow and Tutor in Politics, teaches Introduction to Politics (part B), Comparative Government, Political Sociology and Modern British Government. His research interests lie in the fields of political sociology and public opinion, with a focus on British politics.
Dr Péter Esö is the Fellow and Tutor in Economics. His research interests are in microeconomic theory, applied microeconomics (auctions, contracts) and political economy.
Dr Edward Kanterian is a Lecturer in Philosophy for Jesus College. He teaches in the areas of elementary logic, history of philosophy, general philosophy, philosophy of logic and language, knowledge and reality, philosophy of mind, philosophy of mathematics, Frege-Russell-Wittgenstein, philosophy of Kant, post-Kantian philosophy and later Wittgenstein. His research interests lie in the philosophy of language and metaphysics.
About the Course
PPE is an unusual course, and the three subjects, philosophy, politics and economics, offer highly contrasting intellectual styles and challenges. There is great variety and scope for specialization within the course, and you should have little difficulty in selecting papers that meet your intellectual needs and interests. At one extreme you can keep all three subjects going for the full three years and by the end of this particular programme you will have a clear grasp of the major institutions, thinkers and ideas that have shaped modern society. At the other extreme you can decide to concentrate primarily on one particular subject, dropping another altogether after the first year, and doing only a few papers in the third. You could thus, for example, 'major' in economics treating politics or philosophy as a subsidiary. In this way you could reach a high standard in economics, but backed up by the intellectual variety of papers in another, contrasting discipline.
Politics
Politics as an academic discipline differs in several ways from the popular conception of what the subject is about. In the first place, while there is room for commitment and controversy in the academic study of politics, the primary emphasis is analytical. The aim is to promote a clear view of political ideas, movements and institutions, and to achieve insight into the nature of authority and the distribution of power in society. In achieving this end, the method followed is that of a critical scrutiny of political ideas and hypotheses regarding the political behaviour of institutions and voters, rather than that of attack or defence of the standpoint of any political party or group.
No less importantly, politics comprehends a much wider and more diverse range of studies than is usually imagined. On the one hand, it includes political theory. Here we attempt to critically analyse such key concepts as liberty, democracy, equality and social justice, including classic texts and thinkers of continuing relevance in contemporary life. On the other hand, it mainly includes the empirical study of politics, and political systems, which can be divided into four main areas. Firstly, there is political sociology; here we are normally interested in trying to explain individuals’ behaviour and attitudes. Secondly, there is comparative government; here we are interested in political institutions (such as legislatures or electoral systems), and want to explain the dynamics and development of those institutions. Thirdly, there is international relations; here the aim is to understand the relationships between states, as opposed to individuals or institutions. Finally, politics also includes the subject of political history; here the goal is to examine in detail the nature and background of important political events and social changes in individual countries (or groups of countries) using a more historical methodology.
As this brief survey suggests, politics as an academic subject is concerned with almost every aspect of man in society, and the fact that it differs from popular conceptions of it doesn't make it less exciting or challenging. Indeed, few students will find their political opinions unchanged at the end of their course in politics, and most will agree that they have benefited from subjecting their political ideas to a disciplined critical inquiry.
Philosophy
Philosophy too as an academic discipline differs from the popular conception of what the subject is about. Academic Philosophy will not tell you the secrets of the universe, the meaning of life, how to find peace of mind, or how to live your life. It will teach you to think critically about these issues. The emphasis is on precise and careful arguments. Thinking philosophically therefore requires rigour, precision, and creativity. In one of the main papers, History of Philosophy, central ideas advanced by the great philosophical thinkers of the past such as Descartes, Locke, Berkeley and Hume are rigorously examined. Questions of the following sort are asked: what can we know? What is the relation between mind and body? What is a person? The work of the great dead philosophers is compared with twentieth-century treatments of similar issues, and undergraduates are encouraged to form views of their own. An essential aim is the acquisition of an ability to handle philosophical problems, rather than just learn about existing philosophical systems. In the second main paper, Ethics, the topics studied include the nature and status of moral assertions, free will and moral responsibility, rights and duties. The character of the paper can perhaps best be conveyed by some of the questions set in recent years:
- 'Do we have any reason to be moral? Do we need any?'
- 'Do we have moral obligations towards non-human animals?'
- 'Am I responsible for my own character?'
For those going on to specialise in Philosophy there is a variety of options (see below).
Economics
The problems of Economics are familiar to us from the newspapers and television. The economics of unemployment, inflation and taxation, the role of the government in the provision of education, health and other public services, intervention in the private sector and regulation, problems of world trade and growth and international justice, are all inescapable issues for an intelligent observer of the contemporary scene. It is towards the understanding of these issues that Economics is directed, and it is that challenge which makes Economics such an important discipline.
The method of study is to start with the fundamental economic sectors and institutions in an economy. Households, differentiated according to size, income and social class, offer labour services, purchase consumer goods and save. Firms, differentiated by size and industry, undertake production and investment. Trade unions operate in the labour market. Banks and other financial institutions operate the financial system. Governments form a major part of all advanced economies, and are involved in regulation and production themselves. For each set of economic sectors, we propose theoretical models to explain their behaviour and performance. These models are then compared with the evidence and amended accordingly. The next stage is to put all the models together, and examine the workings of the system as a whole. At this point we may be interested in the aggregate performance of the economy as a whole. If the system is subjected to a shock from the outside (a sudden rise in the price of oil, for example), how does it adjust? And how might the government respond to the problems created? Alternatively, we may look at more fundamental issues, like the efficiency of the price system in regulating production in the economy, or the wider issues of capitalism versus socialist planning.
The development and testing of theoretical models has become much more logically rigorous in recent years, with a considerable emphasis on Mathematics in exposition. So a logical mind, and willingness to acquire some mathematical skills, are essential to success in the subject. However, it is not all "scientific" model building. The best economists are still those who can see into the essential features of an economic problem, and can distinguish fruitful approaches to understanding it. That requires an intelligent understanding of institutions (and here the links with Politics and Sociology are vital), and an awareness that solutions to economic problems raise thorny ethical issues (and here there are important links with Moral Philosophy). Economics as a discipline is intellectually very demanding: but the satisfaction and insight that it gives makes the effort well worthwhile.
The first year course is designed to lay the foundation for more advanced work to be done in the second and third years on the course. At the end of the first year the Preliminary Examination is taken. This consists of three papers.
The PHILOSOPHY paper has three sections of which you have to choose two: they are General Philosophy (based on a selection of key texts), Moral Philosophy (based on JS Mill's Utilitarianism), and an introduction to Logic . This last may appeal specially to the mathematically minded, but can also be managed by those with no special mathematical training.
The INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS paper contains questions on the politics and government of the United Kingdom from 1945, the United States from 1932, France from 1946 and Germany from 1949. At the heart of this is the comparison of institutional arrangements and sociological differences between countries, and there are also some explicitly comparative questions. In addition to the study of the institutions of those countries, students study a selection of major theorists in political thought, including Rousseau, Mill and Marx.
The ECONOMICS paper covers elementary Economic Theory and the application of Mathematics to simple problems in Economic Theory. The mathematical level is not beyond that of A-level although some new material of special interest to economists is introduced.
In the second and third years of the course you will have the option of studying all three subjects (the Tripartite option) or just two. You have to take core papers in your chosen subjects and there is then a long list of further papers to choose from.
The core papers are:
PHILOSOPHY
TWO of the following THREE papers:
History of Philosophy from Descartes to Kant
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics
Plato's Republic
POLITICS
You must choose TWO papers from the following FIVE:
Comparative Government
British Politics and Government in the 20th Century
Theory of Politics
Theory of International Relations
Political Sociology
ECONOMICS
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
Quantitative Economics
The further papers include:
PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy of Mind; Philosophy of Religion; Philosophy of Logic and Language;
Philosophy of Kant; Formal Logic; Frege, Russell and Wittgenstein;
Philosophy of the Science and Social Science; Aesthetics and the Philosophy of
Criticism; Post-Kantian Philosophy; Medieval Philosophy; Theory of Politics.
POLITICS
Modern British Government and Politics; Government and Politics of the United
States; Government and Politics in Western Europe; Russian Government and Politics;
Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa; Politics in Latin America; Politics in South
Asia; Politics in The Middle East; International Relations in the Era of Two
World Wars; International Relations in the Era of the Cold War; Classical
Political Thought up to 1800; Foundations of Modern Social and Political
Thought; Marxism; Sociological Theory; The Sociology of Industrial Societies;
British Society in the Twentieth Century; Labour Economics and Industrial
Relations; The Government and Politics of Japan; Social Policy; Comparative
Demographic Systems; Quantitative Methods in Politics and Sociology; The
Government and Politics of China.
ECONOMICS
British Economic History since 1870; Statistical Methods in Economics; Money;
Economics of Developing Countries; Finance; International Economics; Economics
of Industry; Economic Theory; Labour Economics and Industrial Relations; Public
Economics; Econometrics; Economics of OECD Countries; Classical Economists;
Command Economies and their Marketization; Comparative Demography.
It is also possible to write a short dissertation, not more than 15,000 words, in place of one of the Further papers. The topic can be any subject that falls within the scope of PPE.
Teaching Method and Work Load
As is usual in Oxford, the teaching is partly University based and partly College based. Lectures are provided by the University. There is a very large number from which to choose and your tutor will advise you each term on the lectures you should attend. Tutorials are provided by the College and writing essays for tutorials is a major focus of your work. You will typically have one or two tutorials in a week, and the preliminary reading and writing for each tutorial will constitute a large proportion of your working week. There will also be some classes organised by the College; Maths and Logic classes at the beginning and revision classes at the end of the course. From October 2006, there will be four College Fellows in PPE. This means that for most of your first two years you will be taught in College, but in your final year you will be taught by specialists from other colleges if you have chosen further subjects (such as International Relations) that are not the specialities of the Jesus Tutors.
Library Facilities
The College has an undergraduate library (the Meyricke Library) with sections covering the various aspects of the PPE course and including, besides books, some of the main periodicals. It has reading rooms, but is also a lending library. The main University library (the Bodleian) has a very large collection, which is available for reading but not for borrowing. In addition there are University departmental Libraries with borrowing facilities at the Social Sciences Library (Manor Road), and at the Philosophy Sub-faculty Centre (Merton Street).
Joint Schools
The subjects of Philosophy, Politics and Economics can also be found in the following degree courses:
Economics and Management
Engineering, Economics and Management
History and Economics
History and Politics
Mathematics and Philosophy
Philosophy and Modern Languages
Philosophy and Theology
Admissions
There is no need to have studied any of the three subjects at AS/A2 level before starting PPE. Some people have done extremely well at PPE having studied, for example, French, German and Latin, others having studied Maths, Physics and Chemistry. However, there is no doubt that Maths, preferably to A2 level, is an advantage if you wish to specialize in Economics.
Applicants to read PPE are considered on the basis of their academic record, the reference from the school, and performance in interview procedures. Candidates are also required to sit a pre-interview test for PPE, called the 'Thinking Skills Assessment'. The test will be the same as for candidates applying for Economics and Management. All candidates will need to register with Cambridge Assessment by 15 October to take the test, either at their own school or at an examination centre, on 4 November 2009. There is no test during the interview period and candidates are not required to submit written work. For further information about the test and how to register, please refer to the Cambridge Assessment web site.
During the interview, discussion is focused on a short text or texts which are distributed to candidates beforehand. In the interview we are looking for the ability to understand the arguments in the texts, to express the arguments clearly, to criticise and develop them, and to apply them in areas outside the text. Every candidate is confronted with the same text and the same questions to ensure that performances can be compared between candidates.
In a total College entry of about 100 men and women, 8 are offered places in a typical year to read courses containing Politics. Offers made to pre-A level candidates will be conditional upon A level results (normally AAA, with an A in each subject the candidate is applying to study to degree level). Offers made to post-A level candidates will usually be unconditional.
Deferred Entry: Applications for deferred entry to Jesus College are welcomed. You must apply for deferred entry at the time of application to Oxford: you cannot change your mind after an offer has been made. Please refer to departmental web sites for subject-specific advice. You should be aware that applicants who are offered places for deferred entry will generally be among the strongest of the cohort for their subject. We would not usually offer more than one or two deferred places per subject in order not to disadvantage the following year's candidates. In some cases, an applicant for deferred entry may be offered a place for non-deferred entry instead. If you require any further advice, please contact the Admissions Officer.
Postgraduate Studies and Careers
Philosophy Graduate students will find themselves members of a large graduate community, together with others with shared interests who are at an equivalent stage in their intellectual development. The following degrees are offered at postgraduate level:
- MLitt, DPhil, Mst or BPhil in Philosophy
The Department of Economics has around 200 graduate students. As a research based community, the Department puts great weight on developing its graduate students. The following degrees are offered at postgraduate level:
- MLitt or DPhil Economics
- MPhil Economics
- MSc Economics for Development (joint with Development Studies)
- MSc in Financial Economics (joint with Saïd Business School)
The Department of Politics and International Relations is internationally renowned as a centre for excellence in teaching and research. Its reputation attracts students and senior academics from across the world. The following degrees are offered at postgraduate level:
- MLitt or DPhil in Politics
- MPhil in: Comparative Government; Political Theory; European Politics and Society
- MSc in: Politics and International Relations Research; Political Theory Research
PPE students go on to a wide range of careers, although in many cases you must expect to undertake a further period of professional training. If you want to become a professional economist (either in government or academic life) you must take a post-graduate course like the MPhil. Postgraduate work (whether in Philosophy, Politics, Economics or Sociology) is generally popular. Other common destinations are accountancy, banking, finance, industry (often on the marketing side), management consultancy, the Civil Service, journalism and social work.
Preliminary Reading and Further Information
If you are wondering whether you might enjoy PPE, not having come across any of the subjects formally before, it might be wise to read a few introductory books. The following will give you some idea of what the academic study of Philosophy, Politics and Economics involves (but there is no need to read them all):
- Thomas Nagel, What Does it All Mean? (Oxford UP paperback)
- Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy (Oxford UP paperback)
- Simon Blackburn, Think (Cambridge UP)
- Jonathan Wolff, Introduction to Political Philosophy (Oxford UP)
- Michael Rosen and Jonathan Wolff, Political Thought (Oxford UP)
- Charles Lindblom, Politics and Markets (Yale UP)
- Bill Jones et al., Politics UK (Prentice Hall)
- James C Scott, Seeing Like a State (Yale UP)
- D Jeffreys, Economics and the Economy (Longman)
- C Huhne, Real World Economics (Penguin)
- T Harford, The Undercover Economist (Abacus)
Further information about PPE at Oxford can be found on the Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Politics and Department of Economics web sites and the University's Undergraduate Courses pages.
Last updated March 2009
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