Philosophy, B.A.

The B.A. program centers on the principles of knowledge, responsibility and society. It provides students with opportunities to investigate the connections between intellectual pursuits and moral and public virtue. Questions to be investigated in courses include:

• What are the marks of an intellectually virtuous person?
• What are the qualities of wisdom and good judgment conducive to a successful life?
• Which character traits are conducive to finding truth?
• How are we responsible for the process and products of our investigations?
• What are the connections between knowledge and power?
• What is the relationship between intellectual responsibility, emotional responsiveness and social responsibility?
• How do academic pursuits prepare us for public citizenry?
• What is the relationship between theory and practice?

Grappling with such questions is of the utmost importance in a world too often characterized by interpersonal violence, cross-cultural misunderstandings, rapid technological development, and environmental crises. Indeed, these are arguably among the most pressing questions of the new millennium. The Philosophy program aims to provide students with the theoretical skills and knowledge to engage with the complex issues of our time. As Lorraine Code said:

Epistemic responsibility... is to be found in intellectual virtue and in... a certain orientation to the world and one's knowledge-seeking self as part of the world. An intellectually virtuous person would value knowing and understanding how things 'really' are, to the extent this is possible, renouncing both the temptation to live with partial explanations when fuller ones are attainable, and the temptation to live in fantasy or illusion. Such a person would consider it better to know, despite the comfortable complacency that a life indiscriminately governed by fantasy, and illusion, might offer.

Honors in the Major

Students considering graduate school are strongly encouraged to apply for Honors in the Major. Requirements are outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog Requirements. Additional information and requirements, can be found through the The Burnett Honors College website.

More Information

• Undergraduate Catalog Requirements
• Courses
• Portfolio Requirements
• Advising

Related Faculty

• Mason Cash
• Associate Professor

Research Interests: Philosophy of cognitive science; Philosophy of mind; Philosophy of language; Ethics

• Bruce B. Janz
• Department Chair

Research Interests: Research on Place and Space; Contemporary African Philosophy; Digital Humanities; Cultural Philosophy; Contemporary European Philosophy; Aesthetics and Visual Culture; History of Mysticism; Interdisciplinarity

• Shelley M Park
• Associate Professor

Research Interests: queer kinship; transracial adoption; polymaternal families; cybermothering; home and homelands

• Travis J. Rodgers
• Visiting Instructor

Research Interests: Ancient Philosophy, Ethical Theory, Applied Ethics, Philosophy of Mind and Action

• Nancy A. Stanlick
• Associate Professor

Research Interests: Ethics; Social Philosophy; Academic Ethics; History of Modern and American Philosophy

• Michael Strawser
• Assistant Department Chair

Research Interests: Kierkegaard, Spinoza, Continental Philosophy, Ethics, Philosophy of Religion