Department of Philosophy
About the Department
The Program
The department currently offers a major and minor in philosophy as well as a minor in religion. Please see the catalogue for specific requirements. Four full-time and two part-time active members represent over a century of teaching experience and active scholarship.
Courses beyond the introductory level are discussion seminars of 5-15 students. Our majors and minors receive much individual attention. Graduates of the philosophy program frequently are among the top writers at the College.
A number of our majors are pursuing a second major and find that philosophy enriches their other studies. Joint Senior Capstone projects with other departments can be arranged.
What is the study of philosophy and religion?
Philosophy comes from the Greek for "love of wisdom" (philo.sophia). Philosophy — traditionally at the center of the liberal arts — examines life's fundamental questions. What is ultimately real? Who am I? What can I know? How do I decide right and wrong? Is there an ideal society? Philosophers using creative and analytical thinking inquire into these foundational problems about reality, knowledge, values, meaning, and society.
Religion as a field examines spiritual beliefs, teachings, practices, and worship. Courses in religion feature in-depth study of world religions and religious movements.
Why study philosophy?
Most students of philosophy enjoy philosophy for its own sake. Life has a way of raising ultimate questions. Philosophy taps into the pleasures of the life of the mind. It is a conversation with the world's most influential thinkers: Socrates, Aristotle, Aquinas, Locke, Kant, Marx, and Nietzsche. Philosophy affects all other disciplines. It investigates connections among art, literature, law, medicine, business, psychology, science, religion, politics, and the environment. No wonder a recent New York Times article explored renewed interest in the major.
Why study religion?
Religion opens the mind to a world of possibilities beyond the natural order. The study of religion fosters an appreciation for spiritual inquiry as well as respect for different religious traditions. Religious themes animate much of Western intellectual history, literature, and politics. Students in religion courses frequently use the opportunity to inquire into their own beliefs.
Are there practical benefits to studying philosophy?
Studying philosophy enhances one's life and experiences. Every professional job requires creativity, problem solving, analyzing, organizing, and clear communication. Philosophy develops these competencies, which are never obsolete. Where a position requires special knowledge, philosophy majors tend to learn quickly. Graduate schools and employers know philosophy majors are adept learners. Most college graduates take a first job that is outside their major. People commonly change jobs or even careers. A versatile mind goes with you everywhere.
Philosophy majors who have risen to the top of their field include: Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., Pope John Paul II, Bill Clinton, David Souter, William Bennett, Iris Murdoch, Harrison Ford, George Soros, George Stephanopoulos, Mary Higgins Clark, Steve Martin, Umberto Eco, Philip Glass, Philip K. Dick, Susan Sontag, John Elway, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
What do our graduates do?
Just about anything. A few do go to graduate school in philosophy or religion. The vast majority pursue a variety of jobs or additional schooling in other fields. Recent graduates of our program are pursing careers in accounting, banking, computers (programming, web design), education, ethical consulting, finance, government service, intelligence, law, library science, the military, music, non-profit organizations, public television, psychology (school and clinical), and sales. Please see the section about 'Our Grads'.
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