Dr Oliver Pooley
Vice Provost | Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy
Philosophy has always looked for truths that cannot be doubted, ‘clear and distinct’ ideas, as Descartes called them. A possible example of such a truth is 2+2=4. As this example shows, Mathematics might be an activity that generates such truths.
Both Mathematics and Philosophy (mainly in the analytic tradition) try to create well-defined structures and explore these structures by means of precise logical deductions.
Students of this joint course will study the two disciplines separately. A bridge between the two subjects will be supplied by studying logic.
Cross-fertilization between the two disciplines will be encouraged. This can happen through the study of the philosophy of mathematics, and through the application of logic (and other areas of mathematics such as probability) to philosophical problems.
There is a large overlap between mathematics and philosophy in terms of their methodology and content.
Please refer to the University of Oxford Mathematics and Philosophy course page for full details on entry requirements.
DepartmentsCollege Lecturer in Philosophy
Graduate Teaching & Research Scholar in Mathematics
Fellow & Tutor in Mathematics | Professor of Mathematical Physics
Fellow & Tutor in Mathematics | Professor of Scientific Computing
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Clarendon Fellow in Ancient Greek Philosophy | Tutor in Philosophy & Classics
Colin Prestige Fellow & Tutor in Philosophy | Senior Tutor