Some testimonials from former MSc Philosophy and History of Science students
2010-2011
Greg Grzegorz Lewicki
Shortly after returning to Poland, I started a journalist internship in a big Polish weekly (circulation approx 130,000). I am writing mostly about the impact of science and technology on our interconnected society. This is very much related to my studies at LSE (MSc Philosophy of Science).
2009-2010
Stephan Guettinger
I did the MSc in Philosophy of Science at LSE because I wanted to change my field of work: coming from the life sciences, I wanted to leave the bench and do research on the more general questions addressed in philosophy of (life) science. The MSc at LSE offered me exactly what I was looking for: an intensive one-year course that would give me a strong background in philosophy of science and that would thereby allow me to enter my own research in philosophy of life sciences.
One of the biggest advantages of this MSc, I think, is the great range of courses that students can select from; this allows you to shape your studies according to your own interests. Another great aspect of this MSc is the support and the guidance offered by the faculty staff, who are all experts in their fields. Especially the comments on essays and the input on the dissertation taught me a great deal about thinking and writing in philosophy. It is an intensive year at LSE, but also a rewarding one. You not only learn to be efficient in reading and taking up new information, but you also train your skills in writing and independent thinking. In the end, the MSc in Philosophy of Science and my background in the life sciences allowed me to obtain a fellowship for a project dealing with the conceptual foundations of synthetic biology, which I am now pursuing at the BIOS centre at LSE.
2007-08
Paul Robinson
I was attracted to the LSE program by the large range of subjects covered, and I wasn't disappointed, having benefitted from intercollegiate teaching at KCL. Both lectures and seminars are given by experts in the field, and class sizes are generally small, allowing personal interaction. I also profited from attending events organised through LSE's Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science and the University of London's nearby Institute of Philosophy. These provided access to cutting edge research, and were particularly valuable for provoking ideas for my dissertation, but were also useful through enabling me to put faces to the names I was reading, making it easier to get a feel for the fields I was studying.
Students and faculty often socialise together at departmental parties that are held throughout the year, and in the George IV pub directly opposite the department. In the summer students flock to the neighbouring Lincoln's Inn Fields, a large public park.
As with any MSc in the UK, the full-time course runs for 12 months and is demanding, however at the LSE all exams take place near the end of the academic year, allowing students a chance to catch up on any work missed, though I don't recommend falling behind! I have found that the program is highly regarded both nationally and internationally, and it has been a perfect stepping stone between my undergraduate degree in philosophy and my current graduate studies in cognitive and decision science at UCL.
2005-06
Bengt Autzen
I arrived at the LSE with a degree in mathematics but no formal training in philosophy. The tight curriculum of the MSc in Philosophy and History of Science enabled me to learn in a very short time about the current debates in the philosophy of science and put me in an excellent starting position for PhD work in philosophy. In addition, the ability to choose my courses allowed me to focus on the topics of my personal interest right from the start.
What makes the LSE philosophy department special is not only that all lecturers are experts in their diverse fields but that they all pursue their research via the methodology of analytic philosophy. This creates a sense of an academic community that makes the department a great place for study and research.
As an LSE philosophy student you are also part of a wider philosophy community in London. So you not only benefit from the many guest lectures taking place in the LSE philosophy department, but you can also take advantage of the large number of philosophy events all over London.
My positive experience during the MSc led to my decision to continue with graduate work in philosophy. The philosophy department's expertise in the philosophy of science made me choose the LSE for my PhD.
Justin Bledin
In 2005-6, I was a MSc student in the Philosophy & History of Science track. In the intensive one-year course, I studied the philosophy of science and physics at LSE and took an intercollegiate course at UCL in the philosophy of mathematics. Now a doctorate student in UC Berkeley's Logic Group, I look back at my time at LSE fondly, appreciative of the excellent instruction that prepared me for my current studies, the diverse friends and colleagues I met, and the opportunity to live in one of the greatest cities in the world.
Goeffrey Ho
LSE's MSc programme in the Philosophy & History of Science was a breath of fresh air after three years of undergraduate mathematics. The class came together from a remarkably diverse range of backgrounds -- academically, socially and culturally -- which made for some fascinating and at times passionate discussions. Ever wondered what you get if you put a Canadian physicist, a German economist and an Indian computer scientist in the same room? At the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method, you have a good chance of finding out.
The faculty staff, many of whom are highly renowned in their fields, were without exception friendly, approachable and enthusiastic. The courses that I chose were well taught, and I especially enjoyed delving further into probability and confirmation theory for my dissertation.
Although I have decided to pursue a career outside of academia, the skills and knowledge that I gained during the MSc have proved genuinely valuable. I have a better grasp of the conceptual issues behind topics ranging from creationism to global warming, the latter bearing particular relevance to my current work as a management consultant in energy and the environment.
Paolo Maugeri
Currently, I am a PhD student at the European School of Molecular Medicine in Milan. I consider the experience I had at the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method as the building block of my personality and of my philosophical formation.
Studying philosophy at LSE was an exciting experience. As a Master student you are involved in an engaging philosophical environment to which you are expected to actively contribute. What makes LSE different from other universities is that at LSE you are not simply supposed to learn things. Rather, you are encouraged to do things with what you learn. Friendly tutors who are experts in their field guide you through the departmental activities, from lectures to seminars, and help you to take advantage of them.
The year I spent at LSE as a MSc student in Philosophy and History of Science was very important for my development. In particular, I consider the seminars as the best opportunity I had to improve my philosophical skills as well as my personal attitudes. Thanks to my tutors and to the discussions we had in class, I have acquired not only a sound knowledge of the general issues in the philosophy of science, but also, and most importantly, the ability to handle debates, to analyze papers and to make consistent arguments. These experiences have greatly supported me and my career.
Sally Riordan
I took the MSc programme in Philosophy and History of Science because I wanted to make a radical change of direction in my career. After working in a business environment for many years, I hoped to realise a latent ambition to become a professional philosopher. It turned out, without me knowing it at first, that the programme at LSE was the best decision I could have made. It prepared me as well as could be for the hurdles that lay ahead.
I felt welcomed by the faculty and at home in the department from the very beginning. It's a very friendly place to be. The lecturers are on-hand and dedicated to their students. There has been a lot of effort to make the course what it is: well-structured, flexible, stimulating, well-taught and challenging. And there is an on-going conscious effort made to listen and respond to students' demands.
There's plenty of chance to improve your philosophical skills by debating with fellow students or by taking part in the many seminars and workshops that are held in addition to classes. The intellectual atmosphere is warm and lively. Most importantly, the department is recognised as being one of the best of its kind worldwide, which enables LSE students to compete for doctorate funding at the very best schools. I've moved on to a Ph.D in philosophy at Columbia University in New York City - I've no doubt that I couldn't have done this without the preparation I gained at LSE. It was a vital step that transformed me from a management consultant to a philosopher. And I'm glad I did it, not just because of where I am now as a result, but because the year in London was a stimulating and enjoyable year it its own right.
Stephen Tiley
My time studying at the LSE was undoubtedly the most rewarding academic experience I've had. The courses were well structured and the lecturers had a contagious enthusiasm for the subjects they taught that transferred onto their students. It was both a joy and a privilege to study and learn under the guidance of faculty members who were actively engaged in making contributions to the research fields being taught. The staff always had time for the students. Engaging in stimulating debates on contemporary issues and attending talks by well known experts in my field of interest contributed to that rare feeling of being in an exciting academic environment, saturated with intellectual stimulation, whilst maintaining a collegial and friendly atmosphere. The knowledge I gained, the people I met and the skills I've acquired through my experience studying at the LSE have all contributed immeasurably to my academic development.
The knowledge I gained, the people I met and the skills I've acquired through my experience studying for the MSc in the History and Philosophy of Science at the LSE have all contributed immeasurably to my academic development and provided the ideal entry ticket to embark on the PhD I'm doing now. The MSc is the perfect stepping stone into a myriad of diverse opportunities. Many of my friends who took the course with me have gone on to undertake a wide variety of different jobs, both in and outside academia. The teachers encouraged me to pursue research areas that interested me most, and without their continual academic support, intellectual input and the knowledge and skills gained during the course, I simply wouldn't be doing a PhD now.
2004-05
Christian W. Bach
Studying towards a MSc degree in the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method is a highly rewarding experience in terms of academic and personal development. The courses offered are excellent and very well taught by the faculty, whose members are all cutting-edge researchers in their respective fields. Having been interested in the foundations of decision and game theory I have so much benefited from the unique activities of the Choice Group as well as the high expertise in philosophy of science and probability taught in the respective courses. Furthermore, I have very much appreciated the flexibility with regards to outside options in other departments or non-standard choices which has really enabled an absolutely tailored program of study that completely fitted my interdisciplinary needs. The availability, motivation and great help of my teachers and tutor have really impressed me - It has always been possible to pop by to discuss some ideas or to ask further questions. Having started my PhD studies in the foundations of game theory and interactive epistemology after the MSc, I have benefited a lot from what I have learned during this intensive and insightful year at the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method and can now build on the knowledge gained there.
Isabel Guerra Bobo
I had just graduated in Theoretical Physics when I went to LSE for the MSc. in Philosophy of History of Science. This program gave me a very good point of entry to the study of philosophical issues concerning physics, in particular, and science, in general. Having never followed an academic training in philosophy the year program gave me a very good opportunity of surveying the terrain in some depth in a relatively short amount of time. It helped me a lot in deciding whether or not I wanted to pursue an academic career in the philosophy of physics, which I ended up doing (I am now doing a PhD in the philosophy of quantum mechanics at Complutense University in Madrid).
The program has both taught courses and a research project, where there is a fair amount of time devoted to the latter. There is also a good divison of lecture and seminar hours in the taught courses. We were asked to write a good number of essays throughout the year but exams were not until June, which as a newcomer to philosophy I really appreciated. I also liked the fact that the faculty members at LSE were very much accessible and were willing to discuss essay topics, arguments, etc.
2003-04
Dennis Lehmkuhl
I originally came to London to do a Masters in theoretical physics, but from the very beginning I hoped I would also be able to take one or two courses in Philosophy of Science at the place I knew some of the all-time heroes of philosophy of science had worked: LSE's Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method. In the end, I enjoyed it so much that having finished my Physics Masters I asked whether I could remain at LSE as a visiting student to attend the MSc courses in Philosophy and History of Science. In doing so, I benefited enormously from the course's unique diversity: its high-quality lectures and students from various backgrounds meant that I studied philosophy of science sitting next to a former particle physicist, a sociologist, and a journalist who had worked for New Scientist and Scientific American.
Whilst at LSE, I visited some of the research seminars in philosophy of physics at the University of Oxford. Whenever people asked me where I was based I received a knowing and appreciative nod on telling them that I was studying philosophy of science at LSE. Indeed, this appreciation has been long-lived, for when I later applied for a DPhil in Philosophy at Oxford, I was one of few applicants who began the DPhil immediately rather than first having to take the Philosophy BPhil (a 2 year Masters course). Looking back, I am sure that having been at LSE significantly benefited my application - and indeed, significantly benefited me.
Adam Toon
The MSc in Philosophy and History of Science course provided me with an excellent grounding in many key areas of philosophy of science. The core course, Philosophy of Science and Scientific Method, gave an overview of central topics in the field, while the paper in the Philosophical Foundations of Physics began with an introduction to this area before addressing current debates on Quantum Information Theory and Quantum Field Theory. A third paper, Special Topics in the Philosophy of Science, allowed me to take a more in-depth look at a particular area of philosophy of science, scientific modelling. I was able to pursue this topic in greater depth in my dissertation for the MSc and this later became the basis for my PhD research at Cambridge. Throughout the MSc course, the lectures provided a clear structure for study. Just as important, however, were the accompanying seminars, which allow you to develop your skills in philosophical analysis through debating questions raised in the lectures with fellow students, and staff 'office hours', which provided regular opportunities to discuss work with members of the department.
2001-2002
Holly Anderson
The LSE was my first exposure to philosophy of science, and the courses were challenging but fascinating. Professors did an excellent job of presenting the material so that those of us unfamiliar with the issues could participate as well as those who already had studied some of it. The other students in the Master's program came from a variety of backgrounds, which made for a stimulating discussion atmosphere in classes. After evening courses, a number of us went out afterwards for drinks and conversation. These were some of the highlights of my stay in London, in which I learned a great deal of philosophy and science from others, and made wonderful friendships.
After completing the MSc., I moved to the Ph.D. program in History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh. The background I already had from my courses at the LSE was extremely useful for starting this new program at a more advanced level. Since each graduate department has its atmosphere and approaches, having experienced a different one besides my current department gives me a valuable sense of perspective. In addition to the solid foundation in philosophy of science with which I started, I found at conferences that I already knew a circle of colleagues that I had met as fellow students at the LSE, or at one of the various talks in the London philosophical community. It is always enjoyable to catch up with them and see where fellow students have gone in the years meantime.
The program at the LSE was the decisive factor in my choosing to become a professional philosopher of science. And of course, the chance to live in London for a year is not to be missed.