Department of Philosophy
Think For Yourself!
To confront the questions and challenges in life that have no easy answers requires, in Kant’s words, the courage to use one’s own understanding. Our mission in the Philosophy Department at Miami University is to empower our students to live courageous and thoughtful lives by passing on to them the rich inheritance of the philosophical tradition: its great texts, its central problems and questions, and its distinctive methods of critical thought, reflection, questioning and self-questioning, lucid argumentation, and cogent writing.
Skills in the Humanities
Philosophy explores fundamental questions about reality, knowledge, ethics, and human freedom while developing critical thinking, reasoning, and analytical skills through the study of diverse perspectives and the history of ideas.
Power Skills for Beyond the Classroom
Philosophy courses are interesting in their own right, but they also teach skills that are attractive to employers. Some of the skills philosophy can teach you are:
Making decisions and solving problems on the basis of careful deliberation
Logical reasoning and the ability to persuade
Identification of what really matters in a situation
Big picture thinking
Ability to communicate a point of view cogently
Questioning received ideas and interrogating values
Ability to follow the implications of an argument
Openness to new ideas
Examining your own life
Recognizing your place in the universe
Thinking deeply
Major and Minors in Philosphy
We offer diverse courses and research opportunities in analytic and continental philosophy, covering key fields such as ethics, metaphysics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of science, with a strong foundation in the history of philosophy.
Philosophy Major
Students of philosophy gain insight into the origin and development of fundamental concepts, and they learn to think and argue well, negotiate diverse perspectives, evaluate conflicting claims to truth, analyze ideas, and reason clearly which leads to a wide variety of career options.
Ethics, Society, and Culture Minor
This minor is a particularly good choice for students with an interest in professional ethics and in medical school. (18 credit hours)
Philosophy and Law Minor
This minor is a particularly good choice for students with an interest in the law and in law school. (20 credit hours)
Philosophy Student Spotlights
Physics • Biology • Anthropology • Mallory Wilson Center for Healthcare Education • Philosophy
Philosophy • Humanities Center
Give to the Philosophy Department
Help us prepare the next generation of students empowered to live courageous and thoughtful lives by teaching them distinctive methods of critical thought, reflection, questioning and self-questioning, lucid argumentation, and cogent writing. We have numerous scholarships, grants, and programs accepting contributions from donors like you.
Department of Philosophy
Bachelor Hall 2014
301 S. Patterson Ave.
Oxford, OH 45056