By the end of the programme you will have the tools you need to appreciate the interdependence of text and context and the importance of ideas in past and present, as well as the ability to research effectively and present your work with confidence. Ideas and patterns of thought always have been, and continue to be, subject to historical change. The ways in which they change, and the reasons why they do so, make for fascinating study. In this comprehensive programme, you'll be introduced to the principal methodologies of intellectual history. You will also have the opportunity to explore particular themes in intellectual history, such as Epicureanism, mind-body dualism in early modern thought, the Scottish Enlightenment and the intellectual history of the American Revolution, developing a detailed understanding of their origins, historical circumstances and implications. A wide variety of intellectual skills are promoted through seminars, discussions and advanced study, encouraging the development of the: ability to develop tight and coherent arguments both orally and on the page; capacity to read texts critically and sensitively, evaluating their arguments as well as situating them in their practical and intellectual contexts; appreciation of a variety of approaches to intellectual history; ability to cross-disciplinary boundaries, for example, between philosophy, science and history.