Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford


The Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford was founded in 2001. It is part of Oxford's Humanities Division. The faculty is located next to Somerville College on Woodstock Road.

History of the Faculty of Philosophy at Oxford

The present-day Faculty was formerly a sub-faculty of the Faculty of Literae Humaniores, though the teaching of philosophy at Oxford dates back to mediaeval times. The Faculty boasts over 50 full-time philosophers in permanent posts, with at least another 50 fixed-term, emeritus and associate members. It is part of Oxford's Humanities Division, and currently ranked 2nd in the world by the Philosophical Gourmet Report. It is ranked first in the UK by the Complete University Guide, Guardian, Times and Independent.
Some of the world's greatest philosophers have studied at Oxford, including Duns Scotus, Thomas Bradwardine, William of Ockham, John Wycliffe, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, John Norris, Jeremy Bentham, Henry Longueville Mansel, Thomas Hill Green, F. H. Bradley, Edward Caird and in more recent times Peter Strawson, A.J. Ayer, Mary Midgley, Iris Murdoch, Thomas Nagel, Gilbert Ryle, Genevieve Lloyd, Isaiah Berlin, J. L. Austin, Celia Green, Bernard Williams, Philippa Foot, Michael A. Smith, Onora O'Neill, Derek Parfit, and Elizabeth Anscombe.
A large number of eminent philosophers have also taught at Oxford, including Robert Grosseteste, Amartya Sen, and still others, including Noam Chomsky, Saul Kripke and Hilary Putnam have come to Oxford to deliver the John Locke Lectures, the Gareth Evans Memorial Lectures and other established lectures and lecture series.
The Faculty has the following statutory professorships in philosophy:
The faculty houses three research centres: Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, Future of Humanity Institute and Global Priorities Institute.

Notable members