Why take courses in this discipline?
The Department of Philosophy at °µÍøTV invites all students to cultivate the art of critical thought. In dialogue with one another and with creative thinkers across eras, places, and disciplines, we seek to understand our world and our role in shaping it. Fueled by curiosity, we pursue questions often set aside by other fields of inquiry: what is justice, what is language, what is beauty, what is knowledge? And we develop the highly prized skills of analyzing texts and arguments, examining hidden, underlying assumptions, and constructing and presenting our own ideas with precision and confidence. Philosophers at °µÍøTV affirm a lifelong commitment to learning and to freedom of thought, regardless of where our paths take us.
How does this discipline contribute to the liberal arts?
By the time philosophy majors graduate, they will be able to:
- demonstrate philosophical literacy by articulating what is at stake within and across philosophical texts, debates, and traditions.
- clearly and precisely describe and apply philosophical distinctions and relations.
- analyze, synthesize, and evaluate arguments in writing and speaking.
- engage in sustained philosophical dialogue in writing and speaking.
- construct and present well-defended positions, orally and in writing, within complex philosophical terrains.
- apply the defining concepts and methodologies broadly, in and outside academic contexts.
What kinds of questions are asked in this discipline?
Philosophy courses explore questions like: What is the fundamental nature and population of reality? Is knowledge possible? Does science arrive at knowledge? How ought we to act? How should human societies be organized? What makes human beings human beings? What is the relation of mind to brain (and body)? In what ways do gender, race, and class determine our individual and collective identities?
How does a student get started?
PHI 111: Introduction to Philosophy or PHI 121: Philosophy for Life are gateway courses to the discipline and either should be taken by students interested in beginning the major or in gaining a general background to the field.
There are a number of other 100-level philosophy courses open to first-year students, which do not count towards the philosophy major: PHI 101 (Logic), 106 (Contemporary Ethical Issues), and 135 (Philosophy and Literature).
102 (Symbolic Logic) is also open to first-year students. It can fulfil the philosophy elective for the major and is a requirement for honors.
AP/IB Credit
A score of 5 on the IB philosophy exam would count for four credits in the humanities division.
Courses in Philosophy
Regular 200-Level Courses
- Existentialism
- History of Ancient Philosophy
- History of Early Modern Philosophy
- 19th Century Philosophy
- 20th Century Philosophy
- Ethical Theory
- Philosophy of Art
- Philosophy of Mind
- Philosophy of Science
- Philosophy of Language and Cognition
- Classical and Contemporary American Pragmatism
- Political Theory I
- Political Theory II
- Neurophilosophy
- Environmental Ethics
- Epistemic Injustices and Resistance
- Metaphysics
- Philosophy of Race and Gender
Recent Seminars
- Advanced Studies in Continental Philosophy
- Advanced Studies in Theories of Value
- Advanced Studies in the History of Philosophy
- Advanced Studies in Anglo-American Philosophy
- Advanced Studies in Decolonial Philosophy
Recent Special Topics
- Introduction to Asian Philosophy
- Self, Others, & Society
- The Good, The Beautiful, The Brain
- The School-to-Prison Pipeline
- Digital Stories for Social Justice
- History of Chinese Philosophy
- Advanced Symbolic Logic
- Philosophy & Colonialism
| Year | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| First | PHI 111 or PHI 121 | PHI 111 or PHI 121, or PHI 233 |
| Second | PHI 231 and/or PHI 2XX from the list of area requirements | PHI 233 and/or PHI 2XX from the list of area requirements |
| Third | PHI 231 and/or PHI 2XX from the list of area requirements or OCS (with additional 200-level in an alternate semester) | PHI 2XX from the list of area requirements or OCS (with additional 200-level in an alternate semester) |
| Fourth | PHI 3XX and/or PHI 2XX from the list of area requirements | PHI 3XX and/or PHI 2XX from the list of area requirements |
Study Away
Recommended Study Away programs: Bologna, Italy; Leuven, Belgium; Otago, New Zealand. Courses taken abroad can count toward the major if they have sufficient philosophical content to meet with the approval of the faculty.
Contributions to Other Majors/Concentrations
Courses in philosophy contribute to majors in:
Courses in philosophy contribute to concentrations in:
Department Events and Opportunities
The John H. Worley Prize in philosophy. Philosophy Table. Philoso-Tea, and invited speakers. The Johanna Meehan Philosophy Luncheon for Graduating Seniors.