Master'sHistory of Philosophy and Science
Philosophy and the sciences have interacted throughout history. Up to Newton and even Darwin, ‘science’ was in fact called ‘natural philosophy’. This Master’s specialisation covers the entire history of philosophy, from Antiquity to modern times, and combines it with the history and philosophy of science.
Something for you?
- We offer a broad choice of courses in the history of philosophy, the history of science, and the philosophy of science, covering all ages from Antiquity to the contemporary world.
- Our large and international staff represents different philosophical currents, including analytic, continental, and historical approaches.
- The programme offers a lively, international environment.
- This Research master’s specialisation is part of a broader Research Master’s programme.
- You will have a personal supervisor.
- 60 EC's of the courses are tailored to academic research.
- This programme scores above average compared to the national average (Source: Keuzegids Masters 2024)
Admission requirements
Do you want to know if you can be admitted? Read more about the admission requirements of this programme.
Admission & ApplicationApply now
If you have determined that you can be admitted with your previous education, you can apply via Studielink.
Apply nowFactsheet
- Main language
- English
- Study duration
- 2 years (120 EC)
- Start
- February, September
- Number of students
- 14
- Programme format
- Full time
- Degree
- Master of Arts, specialisation of Research Master's in Philosophy
- Faculty
- Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies
- CROHO code
- 60128
- Accreditation
- NVAO
What will you learn
You will acquaint yourself with episodes, of your own choice, of the intertwined histories of philosophy and the sciences from Antiquity to the present age, and with the philosophy of modern science. You will choose your own topic for your Master’s thesis (which will consist of a publishable article and a PhD proposal). Our specialities are: ancient cosmologies; medieval natural philosophy and logic in the Arabic and Latinate worlds; the Scientific Revolution and the birth of modern philosophy and science; idealism and phenomenology; philosophy in the technological age; and the philosophy of contemporary physics. As for skills, you will learn how to publish in academic journals and apply for grants and PhD positions.
Study ProgrammeFuture career opportunities
This programme is designed for students who wish to acquire the skills needed for a career in research, either in academia or elsewhere. The training you receive in conducting academic philosophical research will give you a head start in a search for a PhD position, but your analytical, conceptual and investigative skills also open up a wider range of career opportunities.
In recent years around 40% of graduates have chosen to continue in academia by pursuing a PhD position (with a success rate of nearly 90%). Many others have chosen to apply their skills elsewhere, in government, journalism, teaching, think tanks, NGOs, IT, consultancy and as strategists, researchers, or policy makers in a host of other fields.
Your network of Research Master’s alumni and the reputation of the philosophy departments at Radboud University will definitely serve you well, whichever career path you choose.
Here, you can read more about the experiences of former student Sümer Şen.
Career prospectsResearch
All of the research related to this specialisation is embedded in the Centre for the History of Philosophy and Science. This internationally renowned centre is dedicated to the study of the historical interrelation of philosophy and the sciences. Many of the researchers affiliated with the centre investigate the evolution of natural philosophy since Aristotle and the development of the different natural scientific disciplines (such as physics, chemistry or psychology) since the seventeenth century. Although the centre is best known for its expertise in the ancient, medieval and early modern periods, the scholars working there cover the entire period from the Aristotelian corpus up to contemporary philosophy.
The focus on natural philosophy is due to the consideration that, at least up to the eighteenth century, time, space and causality as well as the motion of stars, the structure of stones, the growth of plants, the motion of animals and the nature of the human soul were all an integral part of (natural) philosophy. Nijmegen's Center for the History of Philosophy and Science is the only research centre in the world dedicated to the investigation of this historical development.
“It’s wonderful to see our graduate students develop in a mere two years into real experts. After all, that’s what the programme is all about: by writing a publishable article, you introduce yourself to the scholarly world.”
—Christoph Lüthy, Full Professor in the History of Philosophy
Thesis subjects in History of Philosophy and Science
The centre is active in organising public lectures, seminars and colloquia, which students are very welcome to attend. Although many research Master’s students choose a topic related to the research activities of the Centre, this is not mandatory. Recent Master’s theses (publishable articles) were about the following themes:
- The use of history in utopian tales
- The Vatican censorship of Paracelsus
- Thought experiments in Locke and Leibniz
- The theme of flight in Plato and Philo of Alexandria
- Bergson’s method of intuition
- Chiffons of Clairvaux on the will
- Perceptual experience in Merleau-Ponty
- Agamben’s reading of Hegel
Questions about this programme?
Do you have a question about this programme? We're happy to help. Please contact us, ask a student or check out our information activities.
ContactTuitions & grants
If you are going to follow this Master's programme, you will pay an annual tuition fee. There are different tuition rates. The amount depends on your personal situation.
Tuition & Grants