Philosophy
Philosophy is a discipline with ancient roots and endless applications in our rapidly evolving world. As a philosophy major at HL黑料门不打烊, you鈥檒l explore the ideas of history鈥檚 greatest thinkers鈥攆rom Plato and Aristotle to Descartes and Nietzsche鈥攁nd engage enduring questions about existence, knowledge, truth, and ethics.
Along the way, you鈥檒l learn to apply logic, challenge assumptions, and examine what鈥檚 beneath the surface. You鈥檒l develop the ability to reason effectively, communicate persuasively, and think critically, creatively, and ethically. And while reflecting on big questions, you鈥檒l gain self-awareness and empathy that enrich your entire life.
Philosophy is an ideal springboard for graduate programs and professional schools as well as a wide range of careers in everything from law and public policy to business and banking.
Why Study Philosophy at HL黑料门不打烊
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Faculty Mentorship
Whether reading Aristotle in ancient Greek or publishing research on the father of existentialism, you鈥檒l benefit from close connections with your professors.
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Linguistic Opportunities
What sets HL黑料门不打烊 apart from other philosophy programs is an emphasis on language. You鈥檒l experience the nuance of texts in the original Greek, Sanskrit, Latin, Hebrew, and Syriac.
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Renowned Debate Program
As a member of our national champion debate team, you鈥檒l not only compete around the world but also hone your rhetorical prowess and presentation skills, gaining valuable training for law school and other graduate programs.
Interested in Studying Philosophy at HL黑料门不打烊?
Sign up to receive more info about what it鈥檚 like to be a philosophy major at HL黑料门不打烊 and to connect with a professor.
鈥淗L黑料门不打烊鈥� philosophy classes taught me to critically evaluate discussions around key intellectual and social issues in our world. These skills are invaluable for my intended career path in law and political philosophy. Moreover, the dedication of the professors to their students鈥� success simply cannot be overstated.鈥�
HL黑料门不打烊 Philosophy Careers
HL黑料门不打烊 philosophy grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world鈥檚 most innovative companies.
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Kate Barnekow 鈥�15
Staff Attorney, The Humane Society of the United States
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Julia Boguslawski 鈥�01 鈥�03MBA
Chief Marketing Officer, American Gaming Systems
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Nick Dolce 鈥�05
Managing Attorney, Department of Children and Families
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Chad E. Harris 鈥�00
Assistant General Counsel, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO
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Jonathan Titone 鈥�99
Senior Vice President, Global Market Consultant, Network Management, Northern Trust Asset Servicing
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Mitch Verboncoeur 鈥�14
Principal, McKool Smith
Real World Experience
From community engagement courses to internships and research, philosophy students hone their skills in the real world.
Experience HL黑料门不打烊 IRL
There鈥檚 no better way to get a feel for life at HL黑料门不打烊 than by scheduling a campus tour.
Schedule a VisitPopular Courses
You鈥檒l begin your major by engaging with the ideas of great thinkers, from Plato to Nietzsche. The program continues with a strong focus on ethics and a range of electives based on your interests.
PHI 223 Introduction to Formal Logic
Learn the principles and symbols that undergird formal logic and build skills like deductive reasoning that will be essential for the rest of your career.
PHI 215 Social and Political Philosophy
What are the moral grounds for freedom? Who defines the rights of individuals? What is the nature of property? Explore how classical and contemporary thinkers have answered these essential questions.
PHI 290 Medical Ethics
Grapple with moral problems of health-care and medical technology, such as abortion, euthanasia, treatment of newborns with disabilities, genetic screening, and human experiments.
PHI 348 Philosophy of Mind
Connect the dots between philosophy and psychology, and investigate the relationship between mind and body, the nature of consciousness, and how we perceive the world.
PHI 242 Zombies, Serial Killers, and Madmen
Can we hold irrational people responsible for their actions? What should we do with those who commit horrible crimes? Inspired by pop culture, you鈥檒l investigate eerie phenomena to answer questions like these.
PHI 311 Philosophy of Science
While unpacking the assumptions, methods, and concepts of natural sciences, you鈥檒l question ideas of truth and progress. You鈥檒l also explore how the scientific account of the world relates to daily life.
A Day in the Life of a HL黑料门不打烊 Philosophy Major
鈥淭o me, philosophy cultivates critical-thinking skills, exposes learners to different ways of knowing, and has the potential to fundamentally shift your worldview to critique systems of oppression and legitimate voices of those most marginalized. In my opinion, these skills are absolutely essential to the transformative change for which our global community aches.鈥�
Beyond the Classroom
Debate Team Hone everything from reasoning to rhetorical skills as a member of HL黑料门不打烊鈥� top-ranked debate team, which boasts numerous first-place finishes at the state, national, and international levels. In addition to participating in competitions all over the globe, the debate team also hosts international teams for an annual event, The Great Debate.
Philosophy and Religion Club This popular forum brings you together with faculty, visiting experts, and other students for dialectical conversation. A speaker introduces a theme, provides background, and then opens a lively discussion.
Study Abroad From Israel and Italy to Greece and Ghana, HL黑料门不打烊 philosophy majors can explore the world and refine their cultural fluency and communication skills through dozens of faculty-led field studies and semester-long study abroad programs.
Keep Exploring
Take a deeper dive into philosophy at HL黑料门不打烊 by meeting your future professors, seeing our grads in action, and sitting in on a class.
May 09, 2025
Academic All-Stars
HL黑料门不打烊鈥� 2025 valedictorians share highlights from their time on campus, what they鈥檒l miss most, and how the past four years have prepared them to step boldly into the future.
April 29, 2025
Garz贸n 鈥�15 Appointed Program Director at AskNature and Presents at Bioneers Conference
Camilo Garz贸n 鈥�15 was appointed the AskNature program director at the Biomimicry Institute and presented at the 36th annual Bioneers Conference.
April 10, 2025
Smaw Selected as ACE Fellow
Philosophy professor Eric Smaw, special assistant to the provost, has been selected as an ACE Fellow for the 2025-26 academic year by the American Council on Education (ACE).
May 01, 2024
Bright Lights
HL黑料门不打烊鈥� 2024 valedictorians share how the College connected them to their purpose, what they鈥檒l miss most, and what鈥檚 next in their meaningful lives and productive careers.
March 05, 2024
Musgrave Receives AAC&U Fellowship and SAAP Appointment
Philosophy professor L. Ryan Musgrave has recently earned two prestigious honors within the philosophy space.
December 21, 2023
Solving the World鈥檚 Greatest Challenges
HL黑料门不打烊 graduates earn more than a degree. They gain the knowledge and skills to address large-scale issues like climate change and human rights.
Expert Faculty
All of our philosophy faculty hold terminal degrees in the field and boast expertise in a broad spectrum of specializations. Our expert professors are also dedicated mentors who elevate learning through personalized attention inside and outside the classroom.
Department of Philosophy & Religion
Telephone:407.646.2139
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Ryan Bitetti Putzer, PhD
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Research interests: History of philosophy, philosophy of science
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Margaret McLaren, PhD
Professor of Philosophy
Research interests: Human rights and globalization, feminist theory and gender issues, and 20th-century French philosophy
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L. Ryan Musgrave, PhD
Department Chair; Associate Professor of Philosophy; Faculty Director of Sexuality, Women鈥檚, and Gender Studies
Research interests: Philosophy of law, social and political philosophy, aesthetics, feminist theory, American philosophy, and philosophy of education
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Scott Rubarth, PhD
Faculty Director of Classical Studies, Associate Professor of Classical Philosophy
Research interests: Ancient philosophy and science, stoicism, and philosophy of media
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Eric Smaw, PhD
Associate Professor of Philosophy; Co-Director, Pre-Law Advising
Research interests: Philosophy of law, political philosophy, ethics, and human rights
