Philosophy

Website: www.iup.edu/philosophy
Mary C. MacLeod, Chair

The discipline of philosophy involves sustained, rigorous focus on some of the deepest questions human beings ask, questions about the nature of reality, thought and consciousness, the scope and limits of human knowledge, the value and essence of art, and the foundations of ethics and justice. Philosophy distinguishes itself by its methods: unpacking concepts, questioning beliefs, evaluating arguments, and examining the methods and assumptions of other disciplines, including natural science, social science, law, and fine arts. Interdisciplinary focus is inherent in philosophy, and most courses offered by the department are designed to be accessible to a broad range of students, not just those majoring in philosophy.

Students of philosophy learn to read carefully, think independently, communicate clearly, argue cogently, spot fallacies, clarify muddled reasoning, and identify questionable assumptions. Surveys show that such critical reasoning and analytical writing skills are those most sought by potential employers. Standardized exams for graduate, business, and law school test for such skills, and the data demonstrate that philosophy majors do extraordinarily well on them. Historically, according to Educational Testing Service data, philosophy majors outperform all other majors on both the Verbal Reasoning section and the Analytical Writing section of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Two degree programs are available: a bachelor of arts degree program in philosophy and a bachelor of arts degree program in philosophy/pre-law. A Philosophy minor is also offered. The Philosophy BA is best suited to students intending a broad education in philosophy. Some philosophy majors earn advanced degrees and pursue academic careers, but most pursue careers in law, medicine, public service, business, or information technology. The Philosophy/Pre-law Track is designed for students intending to pursue an advanced degree in law and provides ideal training in the skills required for close, critical reading of legal texts, a fact borne out by law school admissions rates and LSAT performance data.

A significant number of students interested in exploring interdisciplinary connections choose philosophy as a second major, both for its flexibility and the new perspective it provides on the primary major. Course work in metaphysics (PHIL 420 ), the philosophy of science (PHIL 330 ), and the theory of knowledge (PHIL 421 ) deepens students’ understanding of the methods and assumptions of natural science and social science. Course work in the history of ideas deepens students’ appreciation of the Western intellectual tradition and their understanding of academic pursuits, generally (PHIL 324 , PHIL 325 , and PHIL 326 ). Course work in ethics (PHIL 122 ) and political philosophy (PHIL 323 ) provides orientation for work in social science, business, law, criminology, or safety science. Philosophers also take a distinctive perspective on aesthetic questions of interest to fine arts majors (PHIL 223 ) and questions about the nature of the mind of interest to psychology majors (PHIL 360 ).

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