Philosophy at NTU

Philosophy is concerned with the most fundamental questions—questions whose answers other disciplines often take for granted. For example, scientists take causation for granted. Philosophers question whether there is such a thing as causation and, if there is, what is its nature. In studying philosophy, you’ll thus take up the following sorts of questions: 

• What is knowledge? Can we have knowledge of the external world?
• What is consciousness? Can it be squared with a naturalistic worldview?
• What actions ought we to perform? Why ought we to perform these actions?

In trying to tackle these and similar questions, you’ll be exposed to different approaches from various disciplines and traditions. And you’ll come away with an acute understanding of the limits of what we know, putting you in a unique position to see clearly just how much people normally take for granted. Along the way, you’ll develop a sophisticated sense of logic, a capacity for rigorous reasoning, a comprehensive perspective in understanding the world, and a broad base of knowledge that intersects with other disciplines such as mathematics, physics, biology, economics, social sciences, and psychology. The range of soft skills you’ll pick up—reading carefully, writing well, reasoning clearly, communicating effectively, thinking critically, and most importantly, thinking for yourself—are essential for a successful career and an enriched life.