Joy Laine Philosophy explores the most fundamental and general questions concerning the nature of knowledge, reality and values. It engages in analysis of the logic of valid arguments, applicable to all rational thought, and in the study of the methodology and basic concepts of other academic disciplines.
Philosophy is thus central to the liberal arts.
Macalester is unusual in offering courses dealing not only with the tradition of Western philosophy, but also with Asian philosophy, offering a major concentration with an Asian philosophy component or an interdisciplinary core concentration in Asian philosophy. Philosophy lends itself to interdisciplinary programs such as legal studies, women's and gender studies, environmental studies, international studies, and various other possibilities. Requiring the development of skills in critical thinking, a concentration in philosophy is excellent background for careers in teaching, law, religion, public service, and almost any other area in which critical analysis and precise expression are required. The courses in the philosophy department that satisfy the international diversity requirement are 36 and 55. In addition, majors in philosophy are required to write a senior paper to be submitted to an undergraduate student journal, though it is not required that the paper be accepted for publication.