Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
“The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else.”
J.M. Keynes
PPE brings together some of the most important approaches to gain the necessary abilities and understanding to deal with the challenge of globalisation and a globalised economy, democracy and becoming a responsible citizen:
In studying philosophy, students will be able to identify and gain an understanding of the philosophical concepts underlying many political, social, economic and ethical theories. Furthermore, they will develop their ability to think critically and logically, analyse arguments, and be able to apply these skills to address problems connected with the key ideas mentioned above.
The study of politics provides a thorough understanding of the different ways in which politics shapes our lives, the various forms that politics takes, and how politics is organised differently around the world. Studying Politics in Maynooth focuses on the three interweaving strands active citizenship, political sociology and political institutions.
The study of Economics provides the students with an in-depth understanding how consumers, firms and government make decisions that together determine how resources are allocated. An appreciation of economics and the general workings of the economy has become increasingly necessary to make sense of governmental policy-making, the conduct of businesses and the enormous changes in economic systems occurring throughout the world.
Career options:
PPE is a preparation for a wide range of career choices. As the experience with other colleges have shown, graduates in PPE most commonly chose a career in finance, politics, journalism, law, industry, teaching, social work, accountancy, business management, management consultancy, advertising and the many branches of the public services, including the civil and diplomatic services and local government. Furthermore, it allows graduates to teach the proposed new Politics and Society course for the Leaving Certificate.
