Students grow familiar with the classic texts of the Western philosophical tradition as they develop their own skills in reading difficult texts, writing, and thinking about philosophical issues. We try to provide a variety of ways for interested students to sample the subject. All courses in the 100's are appropriate first courses in philosophy. Students with interests in a particular area can also begin with a course in the 200's, though the work there may be slightly more advanced. Philosophy 449 and 490 are normally taken by majors during their senior year.
Students write for two days, three hours each day.
The department has usually invited majors to submit a list of six books from a number of periods in the history of philosophy to serve as the basis for the questions on the first day. Second day questions usually explore broad philosophical issues, with students free to draw on any material in answering them. The department's goal is to give students the chance to tie their major together, reflect on this part of their education, and demonstrate their strengths in the field. One course credit, fall semester. A survey of the pre-Socratics, Aristotle, the Stoics, the Epicureans, and a fairly detailed study of some of Plato's dialogues.