PHILOSOPHY

Marston Hall
206-281-2036
www.spu.edu/depts/philosophy

FACULTY:  Ken Himma, Steve Layman, Patrick McDonald, Rebekah Rice

Philosophy is the attempt to answer certain persistent human questions. These questions fall into three traditional groups:

• Axiology (the theory of value)
• Metaphysics (the theory of being)
• Epistemology (the theory of knowledge)

Characteristic questions include the following:

• What is good?
• What is real?
• What is knowledge, and how can one achieve it?

By studying what the great philosophers have to say about these questions, one can develop a clear personal philosophy (and a clearer grasp of Christian theology), learn about the history of thought and develop analytical skills, which can be applied to any other field.

Philosophy majors often train for careers in law, the ministry, the computer industry, and education, but philosophers are also found in most other professional fields. Serious students in all majors are encouraged to consider philosophy as a second major.

Students who choose philosophy as a second major must earn a total of 50 credits, 25 of which must be upper division. The distribution of the 50 credits among the various areas is similar to that shown at the link above. However, the student may omit 5 credits from the history, systematic, or elective courses with the approval of the philosophy faculty.

All students who complete the philosophy major must be proficient in a foreign language. Proficiency is established upon satisfactory completion of the third quarter of a first-year college-level foreign language or its equivalent.

For alternative ways of satisfying this requirement, see the General Education section of this Catalog. Language proficiency is not satisfied as part of the community college direct transfer degree unless the transcript records the completion of adequate foreign language coursework.

Requirements for the Philosophy Minor.

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