• The Philosophy of Neuroscience specialization of the two-year Master’s in Philosophy is unique in several ways. It’s one of the few programs to combine neuroscience and philosophy. It’s genuinely translational: students will study not only the theories but also what they mean in terms of practical skills and training. And it has a special focus on psychiatry and mental illness. students will reflect on the philosophical foundations of neuroscience, engage with the broader implications of neuroscientific research, and become better scientists as a result.
  • Advances in neuroscience not only open doors to an unprecedented ability to explain, predict and control human behavior, but also raise philosophical and ethical questions about their potential risks, benefits, and broader societal consequences.
  • Other questions concern the scientific practice of neuroscience itself. What sort of explanation do neuroscientists provide? Is there a method or model that unifies the various neuroscientific sub-disciplines? What justifies the claim that mental disorders are caused by dysfunctional brain mechanisms? In this Master's program, students will address issues like these at the interface of neuroscience, philosophy, and psychiatry. students will learn how to communicate about these issues with non-academic parties (like patients, health practitioners, and policymakers), and students will contribute to a better practical understanding of neuroscience and its implications.
  • This is a small-scale program, meaning students will work a lot in small groups and receive plenty of attention from the teaching staff. But students will also benefit from working with students and teachers whose backgrounds are in different disciplines. All students following a Philosophy specialization take the core introductory philosophy courses, which means students will come into contact with people specializing in bioethics or law as well.
  • Most students in the Philosophy of Neuroscience program have a background in neuroscience and follow a second Master’s program at the same time – such as the Neuroscience Research Master’s at VUmc. This means students will come out with two Master’s degrees – it’s a tough study load but an attractive proposition for future employers or academic institutions.