Description of the Major
To engage in philosophy is to ask a variety of
questions about the world and our place in it. What can we know?
What should we do? What may we hope? What makes human beings
human? These questions, in various forms, and others like them
are not inventions of philosophers; on the contrary, they occur
to most people simply as they live their lives. Many of us ask
them as children, but later either ignore them, or accept
answers we can live with. Philosophers, however, seek to keep
such questions open, and to address them through reasoned
discussion and argument, instead of accepting answers to them
based on opinion or prejudice.
The program in philosophy is designed to aid students in
thinking about these issues, by acquainting them with
influential work in the field, past and present, and by training
them to grapple with these issues themselves. The program
emphasizes training in clear, critical thinking and in effective
writing. Philosophy courses center around class discussions and
the writing of interpretive and critical essays.
Requirements for the Major
Philosophy is a discipline with a long and
intricate history, a history that remains an integral part of
the discipline. In this way, it differs dramatically from the
natural sciences: for example, although no contemporary
physicists or biologists embrace Aristotle's physics or biology,
among philosophers there continue to be champions of Aristotle's
metaphysics and of his ethics. Because of the richness and
continuing importance of the history of philosophy, the program
is designed to give majors a historical background that will
acquaint them with a wide variety of approaches in philosophical
issues, and will provide them with a basis for evaluating and
contributing to contemporary debates.
A total of nine courses is required for the major in Philosophy.
Students should begin with Philosophy 101 and 102, in either
order; both are required for the major. These courses provide
introductions to historical figures and themes that continue to
be influential in many contemporary discussions in the two major
areas of philosophical inquiry, i.e., practical inquiry into
issues of ethics and politics, and theoretical inquiry into
issues of knowledge, belief, understanding, and reality. The
final required course is the Senior Seminar, Philosophy 401.
Each student selects the six electives that complete the major.
The exposure to figures and topics in 101 and 102 provides
students with some basis for choice, but optimal shaping of an
individual curriculum requires in addition consultation with
faculty members and other students.
Generally speaking, as students progress from 100- to 300-level
courses, there will be decreasing breadth and increasing depth.
In addition, writing assignments become longer, and students
assume increasing responsibility for identifying and developing
the topics of their essays. Finally, students in 300-level
courses are often required to assume responsibility for making
oral presentations or guiding significant parts of class
discussions.
Students considering graduate study in philosophy are strongly
urged to develop reading competence in German, French, or Greek
before graduation.
The Degree with Honors
The degree with honors in Philosophy is
awarded to the student who has demonstrated outstanding
achievement in a program of study that extends beyond the
requirements of the major. The extension beyond major
requirements may take the form either of independent work
culminating in a senior essay or thesis (the independent-study
route) or of additional course work (the directed-study route).
Candidates must have GPAs of 3.6 or higher in their courses in
philosophy, both at the time of applying for candidacy and at
the end of senior year. Juniors interested in pursuing honors
should so inform the Department Chair no later than mid-April.
The independent-study route to honors requires the completion
and defense of either a senior essay produced in the fall
semester plus winter study period (maximum 40 pages) or a
year-long senior thesis (maximum 75 pages). Plans for either
essay or thesis (including a brief proposal and bibliography,
worked out in consultation with an advisor) must be submitted to
the department in April of the junior year. A recommendation for
graduation with honors will be made on the basis of the
thoroughness, independence, and originality of the student's
work.
The directed-study route to honors required the completion of
two courses in philosophy in addition to the nine required for
the major. Candidates taking this route must also submit to the
department revised copies of two term papers (10 pages or
longer) written for philosophy courses they have taken; each
student will be assigned an adviser to help guide the process of
revision. A recommendation for graduation with honors will be
made on the basis of the scope of the student's course work, the
quality of the student's participation in Philosophy 401, and
the thoroughness, independence, and originality reflected in the
submitted papers.
