Filosofie

The Master's in Philosophy of Humanities at Leiden University offers students the opportunity to explore the academic interface between philosophy and the humanities.
Taught by Leiden University's internationally-acclaimed faculty, this programme explores three areas of the humanities: European culture, language and thought, and literature and art.
You will explore what Nietzsche called European nihilism and discover how languages are not interchangeable and that language is more than an instrument of expression. Critique Nietzsche's metaphysics and the role played by philosophical aesthetics in the destruction of the traditional aesthetic and the emergence of modern art.
This intellectually-rigorous MA attracts talented and motivated students. In-class debates with fellow students will fine-tune your reasoning skills and teach you how to formulate strong, logical arguments. Small classes allow for valuable, direct contact with your lecturers, who are invested in developing your potential.
Expect to graduate with in-depth knowledge and advanced skills in critical-thinking – ensuring you stand out in any future career.

The master’s programme Philosophy in World Traditions is meant for students who wish to combine a master’s in (classical) Chinese, Indian, Arabic, or an adjacent discipline with a master’s in Philosophy in World Traditions. This programme is unique in Europe. Leiden is the only place where you can study the histories and languages of India, East Asia, and the Arab world combined with upper-level philosophical analysis of these sources, taught by internationally renowned experts in their fields.
What will you study?
You will combine advanced courses in the non-Western tradition of your preference–including language acquisition—with high-level philosophical analysis of the central concepts, and theories of philosophy in that tradition. In addition, great attention will be paid to the methodology used in interpreting and learning from these traditions.
Is this programme for you?
If you are curious about intellectual philosophical traditions outside of the standard canon and have the ambition to familiarize yourself with the historical, cultural, and linguistic contexts in which these traditions were formed, this is the programme for you. A love for reading both classical and modern texts and analysing and discussing these intensively with your instructor and fellow students, is essential.

The Master's programme Philosophy of Law, Governance, and Politics introduces you to the philosophical issues on the intersection of law, politics, and policy. This programme is meant for students who wish to combine an MA in Law, Political Science, Public Administration, or an adjacent discipline with an MA in Philosophy Law, Governance, and Politics. Only students with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Administration, or an adjacent discipline (or an equivalent degree) are admissible.
Leiden University is home to an internationally ranked Law School as well as excellent institutes for Political Science and Public Administration. Combined with the Institute of Philosophy, these institutions form the perfect setting for the study of issues on the intersection of law, politics, and public policy.
In this programme students will learn about the philosophical, methodological, systematic, and normative questions that come up in the study of law, politics, and policy. Questions such as the authority of the state and its laws, democratic representation, or the implementation of political ideals in a non-ideal world are being studied in the courses. The combination of these courses with graduate work in law, politics, or public policy, is inspiring and thought-provoking.