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Philosophy Major and Minor

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Academic Departments

The Philosophy Major and Minor at Davidson

The Philosophy Department aims to provide you with a systematic approach to foundational questions, an approach that stresses clarity and attention to detail.

Philosophical questions arise in every discipline and in every occupation. Does God exist? Is knowledge possible? What is the best life? Are there objective moral truths? Are we purely physical beings? Do we have free will?

Other philosophical questions are not quite as grand in scope, but are important nonetheless, such as an ethical dilemma in a particular science, or the proper analysis of the evidence or cause of a central concept. Philosophy majors are well-equipped for any profession requiring creative and careful thought; many pursue graduate or professional degrees.

Courses You Might Take

PHI 140
Environmental Ethics

This course offers an introduction to ethical analysis of environmental values and decision-making. Topics include the value of different aspects of the environment, ethical analysis of different approaches to risk as this bears on environmental policy-making and the moral merits and liabilities of ethical institutions.

PHI 219
Freedom & Responsibility

As human beings, it seems that we are subject to laws of nature and to chains of cause and effect. But as personal agents, we feel strongly that we are autonomous beings. In this class, we will explore a series of questions like: How should free will be characterized? Can we be morally responsible for our actions? If we don’t have free will and are not morally responsible, can we still have meaningful lives?

PHI 122
Philosophy of Human Nature

We all operate with an implicit theory of human nature—for example, when we deal with other people, decide what is worth striving for or which social arrangements to support. In this class, we confront the issues surrounding the existence and character of human nature explicitly.

Related Programs

Fellowship Opportunities

Fellowships are competitive awards and programs that provide funding and other resources for meaningful immersive work, like research, teaching, or service. Like scholarships, fellowships can also support academic study.

These featured fellowships support a variety of experiences in and outside of the U.S. Interested candidates should contact Davidson’s Office of Fellowships to learn more about these fellowships and other programs.

Interested in Studying Philosophy at Davidson?