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Philosophy

Full Time Faculty: Janet Folina, Martin Gunderson, Karen J. Warren, Henry West

Part Time Faculty: Joy Laine (Chair), William Wilcox

Philosophy explores the most fundamental and general questions concerning the nature of knowledge, reality and values. Its methodology is in large part the analysis of arguments. It also studies the methodology and basic concepts of other academic disciplines. As such, philosophy is central to the liberal arts, and lends itself to interdisciplinary programs such as legal studies, women's, gender, and sexuality studies, environmental studies, international studies, and various other possibilities. A concentration in philosophy requires the development of skills in critical thinking and writing, and is an excellent background for careers in teaching, law, religion, public service, and almost any other area in which critical analysis and precise expression are required.

General Distribution Requirement

All courses in the philosophy department count toward the general distribution requirement in humanities except 120 (which does not count toward any of the distribution requirements), 160 (which counts toward the distribution requirement in social science), and 369 (which counts toward the distribution requirement in mathematics and natural science).

General Education Requirements

Courses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and multiculturalism will be posted on the Registrar's web page in advance of registration for each semester.

Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog.

Major Concentration

A major in philosophy consists of at least nine departmental courses, which must include the following:

In addition, majors in philosophy are required to write a senior paper to be submitted to a journal (such as an undergraduate student journal), though it is not required that the paper be accepted for publication. The paper is due at the end of February of the senior year and a copy should be given to the department chair. The senior capstone requirement in philosophy is normally satisfied by a senior paper written for Philosophy 489.

While the required courses constitute the core of the philosophy major, there are many ways to supplement a philosophy major, though only courses listed in philosophy will count for the philosophy major itself. The following are a few suggestions.

Asian Philosophy: Students interested in Asian philosophy might complete their major by choosing from Philosophy 119 (Critical Thinking), Philosophy 136 (Indian Philosophies), Philosophy 238 (Philosophy of Religion), 614 (Independent Project) or Philosophy 604 (Tutorial). Numerous supporting courses in Asian studies are available in other departments. Macalester also offers students the opportunity for study abroad in India, Japan and China.

Feminist Philosophy: Courses relevant to feminist philosophy include Philosophy 229 (Environmental Ethics), some of the Philosophy 488 courses (Seminar Topics), Philosophy 368 (Feminist Philosophy), and either 614 (Independent Project) or an advanced theory course in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Mind Sciences: Students interested in cognitive science or neuroscience studies might complete their major by choosing from Philosophy 369 (Advanced Symbolic Logic), Philosophy 360 (Philosophy of Science), Philosophy 362 (Philosophy of Mind), Philosophy 364 (Philosophy of Language) and Philosophy 365 (Philosophy of Mathematics). Other supporting courses would be available in computer science, linguistics, mathematics, psychology and the natural sciences.

Political and Legal Philosophy: Courses relevant to political and legal philosophy, in addition to those required for the major, are: Philosophy 119 (Critical Thinking), Philosophy 160 (Foundations of Political Theory), Philosophy 227 (Bioethics), Philosophy 229 (Environmental Ethics), Philosophy 255 (History and Philosophy of Socialism), Philosophy 368 (Feminist Philosophies), Philosophy 301 (Philosophy of Law), and Topics (194, 294, 394, 494), when the subject is in ethics or political/legal philosophy. A philosophy major is an excellent background for law school and for careers in public policy and service.

Science and Mathematics: Philosophy majors who are interested in mathematics and the natural sciences might complete their major by taking Philosophy 369 (Advanced Symbolic Logic, same as Math 369), Philosophy 360 (Philosophy of Science), Philosophy 365 (Philosophy of Mathematics, same as Math 265), and Philosophy 364 (Philosophy of Language).

Minor Concentration

A minor in philosophy consists of five courses in the department approved by an advisor in the philosophy department, including Philosophy 125 (Ethics), and either Philosophy 115 (Problems of Philosophy) or Philosophy 231 (Modern Philosophy).

Honors Program

The philosophy department participates in the Honors Program. Eligibility requirements, application procedures and specific project expectations for the philosophy department are available from either the department office or the Dean of Academic Programs.

Topics Courses

194, 294, 394, 494

Courses, not regularly offered, which are designed to meet student interest in something not in the list of catalog courses. Recent offerings include: Ethical Theory; Mill's Utilitarianism and On Liberty; Existentialism; Ecofeminism; History of Western Women Philosophers; Philosophy of Biology, Social and Political Philosophy, and Kant. To be announced at registration. (4 credits)

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