The Doctoral Program in Philosophy at Universidad San Sebastián seeks to train independent researchers with the knowledge, skills and abilities to conduct autonomous philosophical research, responsible and with integrity, oriented to the generation of new knowledge and its communication in one of the declared lines of research: ethics, political philosophy and history of practical philosophy.
The program is attached to the Faculty of Psychology and Humanities and linked to the USS Institute of Philosophy.
The program is not accredited.
PhD in Philosophy
Open until March 7, 2025
8 semesters
April 2025
Presential (hybrid)
The Doctor of Philosophy offers advanced training in the fundamental competencies and skills for philosophical inquiry needed to respond from the discipline to the major practical concerns raised by human life and the political and legal structures in which it is embedded. The focus of the PhD in Philosophy is on practical philosophy: on those disciplines of philosophy that deal with the practical aspects of human life, human agency, the political and legal institutions that sustain it, the values that should govern them, and the philosophical theories that have historically addressed these issues. Accordingly, our program concentrates on Ethics, Political Philosophy, and the History of Practical Philosophy.
The Doctorate in Philosophy at Universidad San Sebastián, attached to the Faculty of Psychology and Humanities, is linked to the Institute of Philosophy, an academic unit that conducts high-level research in various areas of philosophy, generating spaces for discussion and academic extension. The link to the Institute of Philosophy allows our Program to be nourished by its academics and the development of their research, and that our doctoral students are immersed in its various activities and networks of national and international collaboration.
The general objective of the Doctorate in Philosophy at Universidad San Sebastián is to train independent researchers with the knowledge, skills and abilities to conduct autonomous philosophical research, responsible and with integrity, oriented to the generation of new knowledge and its communication in one of the declared lines of research: ethics, political philosophy and history of practical philosophy.
Its specific objectives are the following:
To train doctoral students, through the deepening of advanced knowledge in ethics, political philosophy and history of practical philosophy, for reflection, dialogue and informed philosophical argumentation.
To train doctoral students in the skills and competencies required to conduct philosophical research autonomously, responsibly and with integrity, oriented to the generation of new knowledge and its communication, in the lines of research of the program, all focused on the field of practical philosophy.
To train doctoral students, through an updated vision of complex philosophical problems in the program’s lines of research and the diversity of positions that allow them to address them, to contribute with original and well-founded approaches and resolutions.
The PhD in Philosophy focuses primarily on what we have defined as practical philosophy, both in historical and systematic perspective. Accordingly, the program is organized around the following three lines of research:
The research line in Ethics is both theoretical and applied. It includes research on purely theoretical issues such as the nature and objectivity of moral norms, as well as the contemporary development and problematization of various aspects of normative ethical theories such as deontology, natural law or virtue ethics; the ethical justification of human rights; the nature of justice; etc. It also includes research on applied ethics, understood as the reflection on specific ethical problems of contemporary societies, such as those arising from the use of new technologies, the practice of professions such as business or medicine, or the moral evaluation of public policies, for example.
The research line in Political Philosophy concentrates on reflection on the nature and justification of the political and legal institutions of contemporary democracies, both formal – such as legal systems – and informal – such as the rules of implicit social expectations, for example. Such reflection also includes the impact of both types of institutions on civil society organizations and individuals. This line of research also considers more classical questions such as the legitimacy of the state and its limits, the type of rights and freedoms it should protect, and the nature of laws, thus also incorporating the philosophy of law.
Line of research focused on the history of practical philosophy, from classical antiquity through medieval philosophy to modern philosophy. The focus is on the history of the theories and concepts of the ethical discipline (the nature of practical reason, theories of the virtues, the birth of natural law, etc.), as well as on the history of the ideas and concepts of political philosophy (the classical theories of the social contract, the legitimacy and origin of the modern state, legitimate types of government, the nature and foundation of law, etc.).
The Doctor of Philosophy from Universidad San Sebastián is an independent researcher who possesses advanced knowledge, skills and competencies to research with autonomy and integrity in one of the lines of research that address ethics, political philosophy or the history of philosophy, with emphasis on practical philosophy, thus contributing to the generation of new knowledge and its communication.
At the end of the program, the graduate:
To enter the Doctoral Program in Philosophy at Universidad San Sebastián, applicants must possess a set of knowledge, competencies and skills that allow the achievement of the objectives of the Program:
– Possess relevant and updated knowledge in Philosophy.
– Possess the ability of oral and written expression, especially academic writing.
– Possess the competencies to formulate with clarity and pertinence a viable and original research proposal.
– Possess demonstrated competencies in the command of the English language sufficient to understand it in written form that allows access to the bibliography required by the curriculum and sufficient knowledge of other relevant languages to develop their research work, in case this work requires it.
Applicants must complete a form and submit their academic background through the Doctor of Philosophy Program’s institutional digital platform. Applications will be reviewed by members of the Academic Committee of the Program.
Applicants must submit the certificates of degree, degree, grades and academic history documents
academic record documents detailed below, in original or notarized copy, before a Notary Public.
before a Notary Public. In the case of degrees and diplomas awarded by foreign universities, the accompanying documents must be endorsed and legalized as provided in Article 345 and 345 BIS of the Code of Civil Procedure, and must be equivalent to those mentioned in the International Classification of Education (ISCED-UNESCO).
The requirements and background to apply for the Doctorate in Philosophy are the following:
The Academic Committee of the Program may request any other background, which will be duly informed.
The following criteria will be considered for the evaluation: mastery of relevant and updated knowledge in Philosophy, academic background such as grades obtained in previous studies of relevance to the discipline, background requested in the CV (publications, conferences, teaching experience, and other accreditable knowledge relevant to their area of research), clarity, relevance and originality of the research proposal, ability to express themselves orally and in writing, command of the English language and the language necessary to address the research proposal presented, motivation and interest in pursuing the program.
The process consists of the following stages:
Values 2025
Please see application for tuition scholarships, fees and maintenance benefits.
