Philosophy - Consciousness & Embodiment

MA Consciousness & Embodiment
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90)

The MA draws on the research interests of philosophers and cognitive scientists in UCD. It brings together expertise from the phenomenological and analytic traditions in philosophy as well as empirical approaches to the study of the mind/brain to offer a unique taught Masters course on a much discussed and important topic.

- Brings together phenomological approaches, philosophy of mind, and cognitive science.

- Explores the role of the body and its physical and social surroundings in sharpening our traditional understanding of the key issues of perception, the emotions, and attention.

- Through the relationship between consciousness and embodiment, this course brings into focus the intersecting roles of agency, rationality and society in an understanding of the embodied mind.

Who should apply?
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

Applicants with a primary degree in Philosophy, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience or other cognate subjects.

Course Description
Until quite recently, the experience of embodiment and the role that the body plays in shaping the mind had been neglected. Descartes's view of the body as a machine assigned its study to physics and mechanics rather than to philosophy. Outside of the phenomenological circle, and the work of Husserl and Merleau-Ponty in particular, the explosion of interest in philosophy of mind and cognitive science in the 1980s and 90s, focused primarily on consciousness rather than the bodily aspects of cognition. In the last decade a new appreciation of the role of the body and its physical and social surroundings has sharpened our traditional understanding of the key issues of perception, the emotions, and attention. Moreover, the relationship between consciousness and embodiment has brought into focus the intersecting roles of agency, rationality and society in an understanding of the embodied mind.

MA Consciousness & Embodiment
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90)
The MA draws on the research interests of philosophers and cognitive scientists in UCD. It brings together expertise from the phenomenological and analytic traditions in philosophy as well as empirical approaches to the study of the mind/brain to offer a unique taught Masters course on a much discussed and important topic.

Brings together phenomological approaches, philosophy of mind, and cognitive science.

Explores the role of the body and its physical and social surroundings in sharpening our traditional understanding of the key issues of perception, the emotions, and attention.

Through the relationship between consciousness and embodiment, this course brings into focus the intersecting roles of agency, rationality and society in an understanding of the embodied mind.

Curricular information is subject to change

Vision and Values Statement
Our MA in Consciousness and Embodiment programme is aimed at students who wish to deepen their knowledge of the core areas of philosophy and embodied consciousness at graduate level. It is also intended to provide a good foundation of graduate work for students who wish to continue to more advanced graduate research. The programme draws on the research interests of philosophers and cognitive scientists in UCD. It brings together expertise from the phenomenological and analytic traditions in philosophy as well as empirical approaches to the study of the mind/brain to offer a unique taught Masters course on a much discussed and important topic. The School of Philosophy encourages our students to be critical philosophical thinkers with the ability to reflect critically on current philosophical debates, history of philosophical thought and add their own contribution. As the largest teaching and research centre in philosophy in Ireland, the programme benefits from many world-leading figures in philosophy that give invited seminars and conferences throughout the year. Small group seminars and participation in conferences and workshops are a key element of the programme design. As such, the programme uses key approaches to teaching such as philosophical debates, critical reflections, essays and paper presentations.

Programme Outcomes
A deepened appreciation of the significance and value of ideas in and for internationalisation and globalisation

A grasp of how to pursue a career in academic life and the acquiring of transferable skills in research and organisation

A knowledge of how to write research proposals and attain funding from national and international organisations
An awareness of how to compose and structure philosophical writing for peer reviewed journals, book collections and monographs

An awareness of how to present and defend philosophical papers in seminars, workshops, conferences and other fora.

An enhanced awareness of how to work with texts, organise a thesis and set out extended philosophical arguments clearly and compellingly.

An enhanced awareness of the relevance of philosophy to other academic disciplines and to personal, professional and political life.

An extensive knowledge of library and online sources that facilitate research, including classical and foreign language sources.

Focusing on embodied cognition, this brings together the phenomenological and analytic traditions and contemporary empirical work on body and brain in cognitive science

Stage 1 - Core
Dissertation PHIL40030

Stage 1 - Option
Embodiment and Enactive approaches to Cognitive Science COMP40280
Introduction to Cognitive Scie COMP47230
Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception PHIL40250
Philosophy of the Emotions PHIL40430
The Cultural Mind PHIL40960
Consciousness, Agency & the Self PHIL40970
Guided Reading PHIL40980
Guided Reading PHIL40990
Feminist & Gender Theory PHIL41280
Problems from Kant PHIL41570
Readings visual social cogniti PSY40550

An honours bachelor degree (NFQ Level 8) in Philosophy, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience or other cognate subjects with a grade of 2.1 or better is required.

These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes

How to apply?
The following entry routes are available:

MA Consciousness & Embodiment FT (W309)
Duration 1 Years
Attend Full Time
Deadline Rolling*

MA Consciousness & Embodiment PT (W310)
Duration 2 Years
Attend Part Time
Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is

W309: 1 year full-time, W310: 2 years part-time.