Mission Statement
The Department of Philosophy at Â鶹ÊÓƵ College invites all students to cultivate the art of critical thought. In dialogue with one another and with creative thinkers across eras, places, and disciplines, we seek to understand our world and our role in shaping it. Fueled by curiosity, we pursue questions often set aside by other fields of inquiry: what is justice, what is language, what is beauty, what is knowledge? And we develop the highly prized skills of analyzing texts and arguments, examining hidden, underlying assumptions, and constructing and presenting our own ideas with precision and confidence. Philosophers at Â鶹ÊÓƵ College affirm a lifelong commitment to learning and to freedom of thought, regardless of where our paths take us. 
Learning Outcomes
By the time philosophy majors graduate, they will be able to:
- Demonstrate philosophical literacy by articulating what is at stake within and across philosophical texts, debates, and traditions. 
- Clearly and precisely describe and apply philosophical distinctions and relations. 
- Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate arguments in writing and speaking.
- Engage in sustained philosophical dialogue in writing and speaking.
- Construct and present well-defended positions, orally and in writing, within complex philosophical terrains.
- Apply the defining concepts and methodologies broadly, in and outside academic contexts.
Outcomes approved 12/09/2025; Webpage updated 7/06/2026