Philosophy Department
Philosophy
studies the basic beliefs that support all of our thinking and living.
These beliefs are about:
- the nature and existence of
- the universe
- God
- persons
- free will
- space/time
- causality
- evidence
- theory-testing
- rational judgment
- justice
- the good person
- moral education
Philosophy seeks to clarify and evaluate alternative views about these matters. The Philosophy Department’s curriculum emphasizes the history of philosophy as well as recent philosophical work concerning religion, science, business activity, and environmental protection.
At Georgetown College you will study with three full-time faculty members in philosophy.
Philosophy programs are designed to provide maximum flexibility and opportunities for independent study. All majors take advanced courses in other disciplines related to their philosophical interests; many double-major in another academic field.
Recently students have combined the philosophy major with a major in:
- biology
- business
- chemistry
- communication arts
- English
- languages
- history
- political science
- religion
All philosophy majors select an area of philosophy for independent study, and they may enter the honors program and extend this research to three semesters. Many philosophy students take tutorial courses.
The department is especially proud of its innovative tutorial courses
in philosophy. These courses use a tutorial method of instruction
adapted from humanities courses at Oxford University and Cambridge
University. They are good preparation for students planning to study at
Regent’s Park College, Oxford through the college’s new Oxford Program.
The tutorial method is truly a "scholar developing a scholar" approach
to learning. The student is a self-motivated, active learner. The
professor serves as the student’s one-on-one tutor. Students read their
research essays to the tutor who evaluates them by high standards of
both presentation and content.