Academic Program

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This information is part of the Colgate University catalog, 2024-25.

Faculty

Professors Dudrick, Kawall, McCabe, U. Meyer, Tumulty (Chair), Witherspoon
Associate Professors J. Klein, Lennertz
Assistant Professors Stenberg, Makin
Senior Lecturer Pendleton
Visiting Assistant Professors Svoboda
Research Affiliates Abbas, Wolf

Philosophy is a central component of a liberal arts education. It raises fundamental questions about the nature of reality and the place of human beings within it. What is the nature of morality? What is free will and are human beings free? What is the relation between mind and body? What, if anything, can we know about the material world? Does God exist? What makes a state just? What makes for a good life?

In attempting to answer such questions, students of philosophy reflect on both their own responses to these questions and the ways in which past thinkers have defended their answers to them. The process of formulating and testing these answers requires education in logical analysis, reasoned argument, and analytic thinking. In acquiring such education within the philosophy curriculum, students develop their ability to solve problems and to think, read, and write critically — skills that are in high demand in a number of different professions. Philosophy majors go on to successful careers in law, consulting, finance, and medicine. Many have also embarked on academic careers.

But philosophy is about more than reflection and finding answers. As the love of wisdom, it is also a practice and a way of life, one characterized by openness to viewpoints other than one's own, a willingness to question both received opinions and one's own opinions, and a passionate concern to integrate thought and practice into a meaningful life.

The department offers a number of courses that serve as gateways to the practice of philosophy. These gateway courses are ; ; and . Prospective philosophy majors are especially encouraged to take  early in their course of study. Other courses at the 200 and 300 level are either courses in the history of philosophy or courses that focus on problems in specific areas of philosophy. Many of these courses do not have specific prerequisites and are open to all interested students.

There are two distinct major programs: philosophy and the joint major in philosophy and religion. The department does not offer a minor in philosophy and religion.

Course Information

Course classifications:

Major Figures (MF)
Metaphysics and Epistemology (M&E)
Value Theory (VT)

Awards

The Balmuth Award for Philosophical Engagement — established as an award in honor of Jerome Balmuth for the student who, in the judgment of the department, best exemplifies Jerry's love of philosophy and cultivation of philosophical community at Colgate.

The M. Holmes Hartshorne Memorial Awards for Excellence — established as an award for students who, in the judgment of the department, have done exceptional work in philosophy and/or relgion.

The M. Holmes Hartshorne Memorial Award for Postgraduate Study in Philosophy or Religion — established as an award for a graduating senior, for achievement in the study of philosophy and to assist the recipient with postgraduate study in philosophy or religion at a recognized graduate or divinity school.

The Marion Hoeflich Prize for the best Philosophy Paper in a Foreign Language ­– established in memory of the grandmother of Richard Klein '78. Awarded to the best philosophy paper in a language other than English, usually written as part of a recognized study abroad program. 

The Robinson Essay Prize —awarded on the basis of an essay written for a 200- or 300-level course in the department during the previous spring or fall semesters.

Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement credit is not offered. Placement into more advanced philosophy courses may be granted to incoming first-year students who have achieved a score of 6 or 7 on the higher-level International Baccalaureate (IB) Philosophy Exam. 

Transfer Credit

Matriculated students can apply for transfer credit through the Office of the Registrar. Transfer credit may be applied as graduation credit, or may apply to major/minor requirements if approved by the faculty transfer credit evaluator. The department chair serves as the faculty transfer credit evaluator and holds authority for determining transfer equivalencies.

Honors

Philosophy

A student who wishes to become a candidate for honors in philosophy (or who wishes to become a candidate for honors in philosophy and religion by writing on a philosophical theme) should begin researching and developing a topic for a thesis at the end of the junior year. In the fall of the senior year, interested students work with faculty advisors to develop a thesis proposal. Proposals are submitted to the whole department, and students are notified in December whether they have been approved to continue to honors. When a proposal is approved, a thesis advisor is assigned by the department. The student may then register for  with a view to qualifying for honors.  is an additional tenth course, beyond the nine courses required for completing the major.

The independent study should result in a senior thesis. Students writing a senior thesis will give an informal presentation of their work to students and faculty of the department. Students seeking honors must submit their theses to their advisers by the deadline set by the department. If a student's adviser judges the thesis to be of sufficient quality, the student will be invited to stand for honors. (Independent study students who are not invited to stand for honors will still be able to complete their senior theses.) Honors candidates will undergo an oral exam (the honors defense) conducted by the adviser and two additional faculty members during exam week. Ideally the honors defense becomes a forum for intellectual exchange between the student writer and the faculty readers. A student is awarded honors on the basis of both the quality of the written thesis and the conduct of the honors defense. In addition, an honors candidate must have a GPA of at least 3.67 in the major.

Philosophy and Religion

Candidates for honors in Philosophy and Religion normally take an independent study ( or ) with their honors adviser during the spring term of their senior year. The honors thesis – a substantial piece of research, analysis, or critique – is turned in to the adviser several weeks before the end of the term. If the adviser and two other faculty readers decide that the thesis can stand for honors, the honors candidate meets with their adviser and the two other faculty readers – a committee consisting of Philosophy and Religion faculty – and fields questions: the honors defense. Ideally the question and answer session becomes a forum for intellectual exchange between the student writer and the faculty readers. A student is awarded honors on the basis of both the quality of the written thesis and the conduct of the honors defense. No student can be awarded honors, however, who does not have at least a GPA of 3.40 in the Philosophy and Religion major.

Study Group

During the spring semester, the Department of Philosophy, in conjunction with the Department of Religion, offers a study group at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland's first university, founded in 1410. Other than the director's course, which is offered by a department member, students take courses of their choice from among those offered by the University of St. Andrews, at which they are enrolled for the semester. St. Andrews has a very fine philosophy department and it is a great advantage for majors in both philosophy and philosophy and religion to study there for a semester. The study group is also open to majors from other departments. See  and .

 

Majors and Minors

Major

Minor

Courses