Philosophy Major (PHI)

Philosophy studies the basic beliefs that support all of our thinking and living. These beliefs are about the nature and existence of the universe, God, persons, free will, space/time, and causality; about evidence, theory-testing, and rational judgment; and about justice, the good person, and moral education. The curriculum emphasizes the history of philosophy, as well as recent philosophical work concerning religion, science, business activity, environmental ethics, poverty, and social justice. Philosophy students will develop skills to evaluate critically what they read, to examine and to write clearly about what they believe, and to think in a cooperative way. These skills are useful in most careers and in graduate and advanced professional study. Majors often select an area of philosophy for independent study, and many students choose to double-major. The Department offers innovative tutorial courses to prepare students for study at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University.

Students who successfully complete the major will:

• show basic understanding of major western traditions in ethics;
• show basic understanding of the history of western philosophy from the ancient world through the modern period;
• show basic understanding of formal symbolic logic and its application to arguments in ordinary language;
• analyze philosophical content effectively;
• apply independent research skills to philosophy;
• communicate effectively in writing;
• communicate ideas effectively in an oral format.

DEGREE TYPE: BACHELOR OF ARTS (BA)

PROGRAM CONTACT: PROFESSOR Roger Ward