Philosophy
Major and minor offered

Philosophy deals with a range of fundamental questions. How are individual and community -related? How should humans interact with the natural world? How should a person live? Generally speaking, what kinds of things can be known and what things are just matters of opinion? The methods philosophers employ in addressing such questions include careful analysis of existing opinions and their implications, free speculation about possibilities of all sorts and rigorous critical reasoning to choose among theories.

The activity of philosophy is vital to liberal education. Since a primary purpose of liberal education is the development of a person, philosophical reflection on the nature and purpose of a good life is an essential component. Furthermore, when we attempt to answer some of the important questions that fall outside the special sciences, we engage in philosophy.

If we ask, for example, how the sciences obtain reliable knowledge, or whether there are meaningful questions that the sciences cannot answer, we engage in philosophical thought. We engage in philosophy when we ask about the implications of scientific knowledge for our common-sense understanding of the world — when we ask, for example, how our belief in -individual freedom and responsibility can be reconciled with the scientific presumption of determinism. Thus it is through philosophy that a student synthesizes the many facets of life and education into a personal whole. Finally, the methods of philosophy — questioning of common assumptions, analysis of ideas and theories, free speculation combined with reasoned criticism — develop abilities that are themselves among the chief aims of liberal education.

The philosophy department program serves as an excellent focus for liberal education. Although some majors go on to distinguished graduate schools, most make use of their philosophical training in other pursuits. We believe that a student becomes liberally educated not primarily by the accretion of information, but by grappling with fundamental questions about life and learning. Philosophy has a rich history of alternative answers to these questions, and we believe that by understanding these varied answers students are better able to formulate their own philosophies. Our curriculum aims at progressive development of mind and character by increasing students’ awareness of questions fundamental to a thoughtful life, and by developing the capacity for free, creative, critical thought and action.

Major Requirements

Department courses fall into three main groups (delineated in Courses, below). In general, students are advised to take courses within each group in sequence; 100-level courses provide excellent foundations for 203 and 204, and Philosophy 202 is a good preparation for 302. Within levels there is no recommended sequence. There is, for instance, no reason to take Philosophy 203 before 210 or 301 before 331.

A major in philosophy consists of ten courses, including the following: Philosophy 202 (Reasoning) and at least one other course in the area of logic, rhetoric and dialectic; 203 (Ethical Theory) and at least one other course in the area of ethics, politics and aesthetics; 204 (Theories of Knowledge and Reality) and at least one other course in the area of metaphysics, epistemology and philosophy of language, and a "Senior Year Experience" (SYE) course or course sequence in philosophy. Only one 100-level course may count towards the major. At least one Area I course and at least one Area II course must be a 300-level course.

Minor Requirements

A minor in philosophy consists of five to nine courses including Philosophy 202, 203 and 204.

Honors

To receive honors in philosophy, a student must satisfy the requirements for the major. In addition, he or she must have a 3.5 grade point average in the department and complete a departmentally approved honors project (Philosophy 498-499).

Professors

Laura Rediehs, B.A., Earlham, M.A., Ph.D., Minnesota
Associate Professor of Philosophy and Chair of Department

Baylor Laurence Johnson, B.S., Tennessee; M.A., Ph.D., Northwestern
Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of Outdoor Studies

Erin A. McCarthy, B.A., B.A., Trent; M.A., Ph.D., Ottawa
Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Dean W. Lauer, B.A., Ohio; M.A., Cleveland State; Ph.D., University of Ottawa (Canada)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Manuel Chávez-Jiménez, B.A., Truman State; M.A., SUNY Binghamton
Visiting Instructor of Philosophy