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Department of Philosophy

About Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of fundamental ideas – ideas upon which many other ideas depend. Philosophers are concerned with such questions as, "Does God exist?" "Are human beings free?" "Is there such a thing as a soul, or are we entirely physical beings?" "What is truth?" and "Which actions are morally good?" These questions deal with fundamental ideas in the sense that how we answer them has important implications both for what we should believe and how we should act.

Academic Support and Advising Academic Integrity Scholarships and Bursaries

About the Department of Philosophy

The Philosophy department has seven full-time faculty and offers instruction and supervision in a variety of areas within the discipline. Our undergraduates benefit from this breadth by receiving a well-rounded philosophical education. From tutorials in our first-year courses to our small senior-level seminars, students benefit from close interaction with their instructors and with each other, for we strongly believe that the best way to learn effectively is to discuss ideas and arguments.

Our goal in teaching philosophy is to provide our students with the ability to think carefully and critically and to express themselves with clarity and precision. These skills not only help our graduates get into excellent graduate programs, but also to succeed in the professional world. Whether you are presenting a seminar at graduate school, making a pitch to a company, or applying for a small business loan, you need to be able to reason and to present the best arguments you can for your position. Learning to think carefully and critically is the best skill you can learn at university, and the Philosophy department is the best place to acquire this skill.