ounded ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 3 ), ▁though ▁the ▁teaching ▁of ▁philosophy ▁at ▁Oxford ▁dates ▁back ▁to ▁media eval ▁times . ▁The ▁Fac ulty ▁bo asts ▁over ▁ 5 0 ▁full - time ▁philosoph ers ▁in ▁permanent ▁posts , ▁with ▁at ▁least ▁another ▁ 5 0 ▁fixed - term , ▁emer it us ▁and ▁associate ▁members . ▁It ▁is ▁part ▁of ▁Oxford ' s ▁Human ities ▁Division , ▁and ▁currently ▁ranked ▁ 2 nd ▁in ▁the ▁world ▁by ▁the ▁Philosoph ical ▁G our met ▁Report . ▁It ▁is ▁ranked ▁first ▁in ▁the ▁UK ▁by ▁the ▁Complete ▁University ▁Guide , ▁Guardian , ▁Times ▁ ▁and ▁Independent . ▁ ▁Some ▁of ▁the ▁world ' s ▁greatest ▁philosoph ers ▁have ▁studied ▁( and ▁taught ) ▁at ▁Oxford , ▁including ▁D uns ▁Scot us , ▁Thomas ▁Brad ward ine , ▁William ▁of ▁O ck ham , ▁John ▁Wy cl iffe , ▁Thomas ▁Hob bes , ▁John ▁Lock e , ▁John ▁Nor ris , ▁Jer emy ▁Bent ham , ▁Henry ▁Long ue ville ▁Mans el , ▁Thomas ▁Hill ▁Green , ▁F . ▁H . ▁Brad ley , ▁Edward ▁C air d ▁and ▁in ▁more ▁recent ▁times ▁Peter ▁St raw son , ▁A . J . ▁A yer , ▁Mary ▁Mid g ley , ▁I ris ▁Mur do ch , ▁Thomas ▁Nag el , ▁Gilbert ▁R yle , ▁Gene v ieve ▁Lloyd , ▁Isa iah ▁Berlin , ▁J . ▁L . ▁Austin , ▁Cel ia ▁Green , ▁Bernard ▁Williams , ▁Philipp a ▁Foot , ▁Michael ▁A . ▁Smith