MA Philosophy and Contemporary Critical Theory

Choose Kingston’s Philosophy and Contemporary Critical Theory MA

The Philosophy and Contemporary Critical Theory MA is widely recognised as one of the most significant and innovative courses in its field, and is now one of the most successful philosophy masters programmes in the country. Unlike most courses on contemporary critical theory (based in literary or cultural studies departments), this programme grounds its problems and concepts in the appropriate philosophical context.

The MA provides an ideal preparation for doctoral research across the humanities and social sciences. It also prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in education, the arts, politics and public policy.

What will you study?

This programme offers an opportunity to explore the specifically philosophical aspects and significance of contemporary critical theory. As understood on the programme, critical theory refers to those traditions of 20th century European thought within which philosophy opens out onto critical diagnoses of the historical present.

The Philosophy and Contemporary Critical Theory MA combines study of:

• the two main traditions of critical theory – the Frankfurt School and French anti-humanism; and
• their background in Kant, Hegel, Marx and 19th-century European philosophy more generally.

There is a focus on work by thinkers who have become influential only in the last two decades – Giorgio Agamben, Alain Badiou, Judith Butler, Gilles Deleuze, Felix Guattari, Antonio Negri and Jacques Rancière. You study four taught modules, and prepare a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

Research areas

This course is taught by internationally-recognised specialists at the dynamic Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy (CRMEP – formerly based at Middlesex University, prior to its transfer to Kingston in Summer 2010).

Since its inception in 1994, the CRMEP has developed a national and international reputation for teaching and research in the field of post-Kantian European philosophy, characterised by a strong emphasis on broad cultural and intellectual contexts and a distinctive sense of social and political engagement. Building on its grade 5 rating in RAE 2001, work published by members of the CRMEP was awarded a score of 2.8 on the new RAE scale in 2008, with 65% of its research activity judged ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
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