Philosophy

Objectives

Socrates once said that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Indeed, development of critical thinking and rational judgment is a primary goal of philosophy. Through analysis and interpretation of the works of past and contemporary philosophers, students examine basic questions concerning reasoning and the nature and sources of human knowledge and values. Through interactive dialogue with teachers and peers, students acquire speaking and writing skills that enable them to develop and effectively communicate their own views. Philosophy courses incorporate both multicultural and values-oriented thinking in order to help students develop a holistic perspective. In addition to the general education courses in Philosophy – Introduction to Philosophy and Ethics – the Department of Philosophy offers sequences of courses culminating in a major or a minor. A significant goal of the Department of Philosophy is to provide students with a course of study that will prepare them for graduate and professional school, not only in philosophy, but also in such fields as law, psychology, social work, education, public administration and healthcare. Philosophy courses develop reading comprehension and logical reasoning skills which are a significant part of graduate and professional school entrance exams, such as the Graduate Record Exam and the Law School Admission Test.