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• Centre for Reasoning

Reasoning MA

The taught MA in Reasoning is run by Philosophy, with options provided by other subject areas. All teaching takes place at the Canterbury Campus of the University of Kent.

Students choose taught modules to a total of 120 credits. At least 60 credits must be chosen from the core module offering.

Core modules:

• Logic (Jon Williamson, Philosophy, Autumn term) [30 Credits]
• Philosophy of Logic (Laurence Goldstein, Philosophy, Autumn term) [30 Credits]
• Philosophy of Science (David Corfield, Philosophy, Autumn term) [30 Credits]
• Philosophy of Mind (Julia Tanney, Philosophy, Autumn term) [30 Credits]
• Philosophy of Cognitive Science and AI (Julia Tanney, Philosophy, Spring term) [30 Credits]
• Philosophy of Language (Laurence Goldstein, Philosophy, Spring term) [30 Credits]
• Advanced topics in Mind and Language (Julia Tanney, Philosophy, Spring term) [30 Credits]
• Paradoxes (Laurence Goldstein, Philosophy, Spring term) [30 Credits]
• Special topics (Various, Autumn/Spring term) [30 Credits]

In the past, special topics have included:

• Logical reasoning, fallacies and paradoxes (Laurence Goldstein & George Darby, Philosophy)
• Further logic for philosophers (George Darby, Philosophy)
• Causal and probabilistic reasoning (Jon Williamson, Philosophy)
• Scientific and mathematical reasoning (George Darby, Philosophy)
• The advent of scientific reasoning: Galileo and Descartes to Newton and Kant
• Wittgenstein's lectures on the foundations of mathematics (David Corfield & Julia Tanney, Philosophy)

Non-core modules:

• Psychology of Reasoning:
  • Current issues in cognitive psychology and neuropsychology (Psychology SP827, Autumn & Spring terms) [40 credits]
  • Cognitive neural networks Psychology SP846, Autumn term) [20 credits]

• AI:
  • Introduction to intelligent systems (Computing CO528, Spring term) [15 credits]
  • Logic and logic programming(Computing CO884, Autumn term) [15 credits]*
  • Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery (Computing CO832, Spring term) [15 Credits]*

• Statistical Reasoning:
  • Probability and Inference (Statistics MA862, Autumn & Spring terms) [25 credits]**
  • Further Statistical Theory (Statistics MA864, Autumn & Spring terms) [15 credits]**

• Legal Reasoning:
  • The foundations of the English legal system(Law LW864, Autumn term) [20 credits]
  • European Comparative Law (Law LW807, Autumn term) [20 credits]

• Scientific Reasoning:
  • Design, philosophy and ethics of social inquiry (Social Policy SO833, Autumn term) [20 credits]
  • Techniques of data analysis (Social Policy SO832, Spring term) [20 credits]
  • Using secondary and qualitative data (Social Policy SO817) [20 credits]
  • Science@Work: professional science communication (Biosciences BI830, Autumn term) [30 credits]
  • History of science and communication (History HI866, Autumn term) [30 credits]
  • Science, ethics and controversy (History HI869, Spring term) [30 credits]
  • Visualising science (History HI867, Spring term) [30 credits]
  • Science communication in practice (Biosciences BI831, Spring term) [30 credits]

• A single wild module from the Philosophy MA, a Psychology MSc, the Computer Science MSc or the Statistics MSc [various credits]

* assumes some prior experience of computer programming with an imperative language such as Java.
** assumes a good level of calculus and linear algebra and a basic level of probability and statistics.

Students also attend a graduate research seminar, and do a dissertation (PL899) [60 credits] on a topic connected with reasoning. The MA Programme specification is available here.

If you would like further information please contact us.

You can apply for the MA in Reasoning here.

Note that not all modules will run every year. The range of modules available for selection in any particular year depends on student demand, staff sabbatical arrangements and timetable constraints.

Postgraduate research in Reasoning

If you are considering taking a Research Masters or PhD on a topic connected with the study of reasoning and inference, do consider studying at the Centre for Reasoning. To find out more about the opportunities available please contact us, or contact members of the Centre for Reasoning whose interests coincide with your own.

PhD students can take advantage of our membership of the Reasoning Club to access the expertise of a network of researchers around Europe.