Programs of Study
Philosophy is quite unlike any other field and has a unique role to play in any liberal arts curriculum. No brief definition expresses the richness and depth of philosophy. It is a reasoned pursuit of fundamental truths, a quest for understanding, a study of the principles of human knowledge and conduct. It is a discipline that challenges students to think and to ask questions, to reflect on their own biases and assumptions and to put order into their thoughts.
Philosophy affords students a theoretical and practical grasp of the ethical questions that are at the forefront of concern in today's pluralistic society. Philosophy confronts human values precisely as values. Delving into questions concerning the very nature of good and evil, it enables students to move beyond what is merely descriptive to the ethical prescriptive. The philosophy student probes the basis of ethical judgment and subjects ethical criteria to critical evaluation.
Philosophy enhances the ability to perceive the relationships among the various fields of study. Although philosophy is an autonomous discipline, philosophers have often addressed ultimate questions that most preoccupy theologians. Creative philosophers have in every age provided the vocabulary and theoretical basis for innovative theological thought. Furthermore, philosophy teaches students to evaluate the beliefs and presuppositions of other disciplines, including the natural and behavioral sciences. The philosopher declares any existing scientific methodology fair game for critical probing. The role of philosophy in providing and evaluating the basic principles of other disciplines makes it an excellent accompaniment to those diverse fields of study.
All told, philosophy is an indispensable part of any liberal arts curriculum. It is a fundamental discipline that best captures what it means to pursue a college-level liberal education.
Majors and Minors
The Philosophy Major and Philosophy Minor are intended to meet the needs of four types of students:
- Those who wish to use philosophy as the organizing core of a liberal education.
- Those who desire to study philosophy in preparation for graduate
work in some other field, such as law, government, or theology.
Statistics show that in preparing for professional schools, philosophy majors score the highest verbally and third highest overall among students seeking admittance to graduate schools of management; score second highest among all fields on the GRE; are more likely to be admitted to law school than other humanities and business majors; and are more likely to be admitted to medical school than all but three other fields (1981 figures)
According to a study done by the National Institute of Education, philosophy majors are more likely to finish near the top of their class in both law and medical school than their counterparts from other majors. - Those who plan to major jointly in philosophy and one of the social sciences, one of the natural sciences, or humanities.
- Those who have a professional interest in philosophy and intend to do graduate work in the subject.
Philosophy for Pre-Law Students
Philosophy is by far the best preparation for Law School, as well as a lifetime asset for the career lawyer. The Department offers a Philosophy Major for Pre-Law Students. Below is a summary of some of the advantages of having a philosophy background before entering Law School.
- The philosophy student develops invaluable skills in precise analytical thinking, logical reasoning, and persuasive argumentation. In a recent survey, lawyers who had previously studied philosophy pointed to this training, more than any other aspect of their undergraduate preparation, as the single most important factor in the success of their careers.
- Lawyers need to think clearly, speak forcefully, and write coherently. Philosophy emphasizes these communication skills in every one of its courses.
- Philosophy provides significant insight into and appreciation of the theoretical underpinnings of the law. This is especially true of the law of our country, which is founded upon principles developed by such philosophers as Hobbes, Locke, and Bentham. Jurisprudence, an essential part of any Law School curriculum, is the philosophy or the formal science of law.
- Every major law school has come to realize the importance of legal ethics in their curriculum. As part of its program, philosophy develops the theoretical and practical foundations of ethics.
- Philosophy, and especially Logic, are important dimensions of courses designed to prepare students for the admission test to Law School (LSAT). Philosophy majors performed substantially better than most other majors on the LSAT.
- Undergraduate philosophy majors who apply to Law School are more likely to be admitted than students from all other humanities and business fields, according to statistics compiled by the Law School Admission Services.