Department of Philosophy
Faculty in the Department of Philosophy: Glen Helman (chair), Cheryl Hughes, Matthew Carlson, Jeffrey Gower, and Adriel Trott.
The 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant once suggested three questions for philosophy, “What can I know?” “What must I do?” and “What may I hope?” Philosophers argue over many things, among them what questions we ought to pose, and that suggests a further question, “What should we ask?” The ancient Athenian philosopher Socrates lived by asking questions, so he exemplified this questioning spirit. Socrates told the Athenians that the unexamined life was not worth living, suggesting that we should examine life and ourselves, not just the world before us. And philosophers after him have often thought that a desire to know, a desire for answers to our questions, was tied to the development of character.
The Philosophy Department engages students in their own pursuit of such questions. They read historical and contemporary philosophy to see the questions asked by others and to help them to develop and ponder their own questions in preparation for a life of critical reflection and thoughtfulness. Such a life can be led along many career paths. Philosophy majors have gone on to law school and other professional schools, have gone into business and public service, and have gone on to graduate school in philosophy.
There are few prerequisites on our courses, but initial digits will suggest something about their level. All courses in the 100s are appropriate introductions to philosophy. Students with interests in a particular area (e.g., the philosophy of race, the philosophy of law, the philosophy of science, philosophy and literature) might begin with a 200-level course in that area. Most students in 300-level courses will have had previous courses in philosophy. The senior seminar is required of majors but open to others.
Comprehensive Examinations: Students write for two days, three hours each day. The department has usually invited majors to submit a list of six books from a number of periods in the history of philosophy to serve as the basis for the questions on the first day. Second day questions usually explore broad philosophical issues, with students free to draw on any material in answering them. The department’s goal is to give students the chance to tie their major together, reflect on this part of their education, and demonstrate their strengths in the field.
Requirements for the Major: Nine course credits (of which up to one credit may be from PSC 330, 335, 336, or 338), including
• The history of ancient and early modern philosophy (PHI 140 and 242)
• Logic (PHI 270)
• Work in ethics, social, or political philosophy (at least one credit from among PHI 110, 213, 217, 218, 219, 319, or PSC 330, 335, 336, or 338)
• Work in the Continental tradition after Kant (PHI 345 for at least one credit)
• Work in epistemology, metaphysics, and related areas (at least one credit from among PHI 272; 269 or 369; 279 or 379; or 346)
• Senior seminar (PHI 449)
• Senior reading (PHI 490, one-half credit.)
Requirements for the Minor: Five course credits (of which up to one credit may be from PSC 330, 335, 336, or 338), including
• The history of ancient and early modern philosophy (PHI 140 and 242)
• Work in ethics, social, or political philosophy (at least one credit from among PHI 110, 213, 217, 218, 219, 319, or PSC 330, 335, 336, or 338)
• At least one credit from courses in philosophy with a number of 300 or above.