Department of Philosophy

Michael Pace, Ph.D., Chair

Professor: Warren;
Associate Professors: Pace, Van der Vossen;
Assistant Professor: Hankins, McDavid, McQueen, Robinson, Thrasher.

Studying philosophy enables students to think for themselves while learning from the insights of great thinkers from the past. It helps students to reason logically, analyze and solve problems, state and defend views clearly, make moral decisions more effectively and integrate the personal and professional aspects of life.

Philosophy seeks to unify our lives and to clarify the values that give life meaning. It illuminates such perplexing issues as what makes a society just, how the mind and body are related, whether actions are free or determined and whether God exists.

Majoring in philosophy provides an excellent preparation for careers and graduate study in fields such as law, journalism, education and business. Since philosophy is inherently interdisciplinary, many philosophy majors find it natural to double major (that is, to major in two disciplines). Philosophical questions arise in all disciplines, including law, psychology, political science, natural science, English, business, art and religion.

A philosophy minor educates one in critical reasoning and the history of Western philosophy and provides insights into a wide range of practical and theoretical topics within philosophy (usually including issues relating to one’s major discipline).

We have a chapter in Phi Sigma Tau, the International Honor Society for Philosophy.

Members of the philosophy faculty are active scholars whose research focuses on issues in applied ethics, religion, epistemology and philosophy of mind.

Departmental Honors
The philosophy faculty awards departmental honors to graduating senior philosophy majors who have demonstrated outstanding academic work in philosophy. To be considered for departmental honors, students must have achieved a grade point average of 3.500 or higher in their philosophy courses and have completed a substantial independent research paper in philosophy, judged to be excellent, as part of PHIL 398 - Junior/Senior Seminar (or who have otherwise demonstrated to the philosophy faculty that they have written a substantial philosophical research paper, judged to be excellent).

Departmental Award
The philosophy department bestows its annual William James Award on an exceptional philosophy student selected by the philosophy faculty.

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts

Philosophy, B.A.

Minor

Philosophy, Minor

Courses

Philosophy