Major and Minor

The Philosophy Major and Minor at Davidson

The Philosophy Department aims to provide you with a systematic approach to foundational questions, an approach that stresses clarity and attention to detail.

Philosophical questions arise in every discipline and in every occupation. Does God exist? Is knowledge possible? What is the best life? Are there objective moral truths? Are we purely physical beings? Do we have free will?

Other philosophical questions are not quite as grand in scope, but are important nonetheless, such as an ethical dilemma in a particular science, or the proper analysis of the evidence or cause of a central concept. Philosophy majors are well-equipped for any profession requiring creative and careful thought; many pursue graduate or professional degrees.

Courses You Might Take

PHI 495

Senior Thesis

Instructor
Staff

Open only to Philosophy majors. Includes the writing of a thesis under the supervision of a faculty member. Majors pursuing Honors must defend the thesis before the Philosophy faculty.

Counts as an elective for the Philosophy major.

Prerequisites…

PHI 107

Medieval Philosophy

Instructor
Griffith

Introduction to philosophers of the medieval period. We will study thinkers of the Christian, Islamic, and Jewish traditions, spanning from the fourth century C.E. up to the fourteenth century. Philosophers discussed may include: Augustine, Boethius, Anselm, Peter Abelard…

PHI 160