Philosophy Major
Department of Philosophy
Philosophy involves an ongoing attempt to analyze, interpret, and rationally explain what people believe, value, and do. Philosophy courses acquaint students with the great ideas of diverse civilizations and assist them in developing philosophical orientations of their own. Courses in philosophy serve not only philosophy majors and minors, but also those who wish to study philosophy as part of the common heritage of humankind.
Student majoring in philosophy will select a base course in addition to required courses in the history of philosophy. Elective groupings include Social and Cultural Philosophy, Philosophy of Knowledge and Reality, and Applied and Professional Ethics. Students interested in a major in philosophy should contact the department and a faculty advisor.
Effective Fall 2023, the philosophy major has three concentrations: (1) General Philosophy; (2) Ethics and the Public Life; and (3) World Philosophical Traditions.
Requirements for the Major
| Any 1000-level philosophy course | 3 credits |
Concentration (choose one)
The General Philosophy concentration of the major requires 24 credits in philosophy, including (a) three courses in the history of philosophy, and (b) a capstone course, which may be a special topics course (PHI 4900 or PHI 4905), a research practicum (PHI 5010), or an honors course (PHI 6001H-6003H).
| History of Philosophy (choose three): | ||
| PHI 3000 | Existentialism in Philosophy and Literature | 3 credits |
| PHI 3018/BLS 3018 | African Philosophy and Religion | 3 credits |
| PHI 3120 | Ancient Greek Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 3130 | Christian, Islamic, and Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages | 3 credits |
| PHI 3140 | Modern European Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 3145 | Nineteenth Century Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 3150 | Philosophy in the Twentieth-Century | 3 credits |
| PHI 3155 | Philosophies from India (AAS
3155, REL 3155) (formerly PHI 2155) |
3 credits |
| PHI 3165 | Classical Buddhism (AAS 3165, HIS 3165, REL 3165) (formerly PHI 2165) | 3 credits |
| PHI 3170 | Classical Chinese Philosophy (AAS 3170, HIS 3170) (formerly PHI 2170) | 3 credits |
| PHI 3180 | Philosophies from Japan | 3 credits |
| Capstone (choose one) | ||
| PHI 4900 | Special Topics in Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 4905 | Special Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology | 3 credits |
| PHI 5010 | Research Practicum | 3 credits |
| PHI 6001H- 6003H | Philosophy Honors I-III | 3 credits |
| Electives | ||
| Choose four additional courses for 12 credits. Electives must be selected from Department of Philosophy offerings numbered at the 3000, 4000, 5000, and 6000-levels. | ||
The Ethics and the Public Life concentration within the major requires 24 credits in philosophy, including: (a) two courses in social philosophy; (b) two courses in applied or professional ethics; and (c) a capstone course, which may be a special topics course (PHI 4900 or PHI 4905), a research practicum (PHI 5010), or an honors course (PHI 6001H-6003H).
| Social Philosophy (choose two): | ||
| PHI 3020 | Philosophy of Law | 3 credits |
| PHI 3025 | The Philosophy of Rights and Property | 3 credits |
| PHI/WSM 3205 | Feminist Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 3230 | Political Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 3235 | Truth and Politics (POL 3235) | 3 credits |
| PHI 3240 | Philosophy of Art | 3 credits |
| PHI 3260 | Crime and Punishment | 3 credits |
| Applied or Professional Ethics (choose two): | ||
| PHI 3050 | Ethics, Economics, and the Business System | 3 credits |
| PHI 3051 | Moral Problems of Life and Death | 3 credits |
| PHI 3055 | Art and Public Policy | 3 credits |
| PHI 3200 | Environmental Ethics | 3 credits |
| PHI 3270 | Technology, Ethics, and Society (formerly Computer Ethics) | 3 credits |
| PHI 3280 | The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence | 3 credits |
| PHI 3290 | Psychology of Ethics (PSY 3290) | 3 credits |
| Capstone Course (choose one) | ||
| PHI 4900 | Special Topics in Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 4905 | Special Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology | 3 credits |
| PHI 5010 | Research Practicum | 3 credits |
| PHI 6001H- 6003H | Philosophy Honors I-III | 3 credits |
| Electives: | ||
| Choose three additional courses for 9 credits. Electives must be selected from Department of Philosophy offerings numbered at the 3000, 4000, 5000, and 6000-levels. | ||
The World Philosophical Traditions concentration within the major requires 24 credits in philosophy, including: (a) two courses in the history of western philosophy; (b) two courses in the history of nonwestern philosophy; and (c) a capstone course, which may be a special topics course (PHI 4900 or PHI 4905), a research practicum (PHI 5010), or an honors course (PHI 6001H-6003H).
| History of Western Philosophy (choose two): | ||
| PHI 3000 | Existentialism in Philosophy and
Literature |
3 credits |
| PHI 3120 | Ancient Greek Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 3130 | Christian, Islamic, and Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages | 3 credits |
| PHI 3140 | Modern European Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 3145 | Nineteenth Century Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 3150 | Philosophy in the Twentieth-Century | 3 credits |
| History of Non-Western Philosophy (choose two): | ||
| PHI 3155 | Philosophies from India (AAS
3155, REL 3155) (formerly PHI 2155) |
3 credits |
| PHI 3165 | Classical Buddhism (AAS 3165, HIS 3165, REL 3165) (formerly PHI 2165) | 3 credits |
| PHI 3170 | Classical Chinese Philosophy (AAS 3170, HIS 3170) (formerly PHI 2170) | 3 credits |
| PHI 3180 | Philosophies from Japan | 3 credits |
| Capstone Course (choose one) | ||
| PHI 4900 | Special Topics in Philosophy | 3 credits |
| PHI 4905 | Special Topics in Metaphysics and Epistemology | 3 credits |
| PHI 5010 | Research Practicum | 3 credits |
| PHI 6001H- 6003H | Philosophy Honors I-III | 3 credits |
| Electives | ||
| Choose three additional courses for 9 credits. Electives must be selected from Department of Philosophy offerings numbered at the 3000, 4000, 5000, and 6000-levels. | ||
Students are expected to complete the major requirements in place at the time they are officially accepted into their programs. Please review the College Bulletin for the relevant academic year.
Contact
Department of Philosophy
646-312-4360
Department Chair: Sandeep Sreekumar
646-213-4370