Philosophy

Maria Carl, PhD, Chair
Web: http://www.seattleu.edu/artsci/departments/philosophy/

Objectives

The study of philosophy begins with questions that are as personal as they are universal: What truths can I know? How should I live? Who, or what, am I? Where is my place in the grand scheme of things? To respond fruitfully to such questions requires training in critical habits of mind, learning from the rich traditions and the great minds that have meditated on such questions, and engaging in lively discussion with a community of inquirers. Seattle University undergraduate philosophy courses communicate the value of philosophy and impart knowledge of its most influential figures. Even more, the courses help students bring their own intellectual concerns into dialogue with great minds of the past and present, and hone skills of reasoning and argumentation that make that questioning illuminating, reliable, and useful.

Elective courses support a major in philosophy that emphasizes skills of textual analysis, knowledge of the history of philosophy, and familiarity with contemporary figures and major trends.