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 220

Political Philosophy

Instructor
Layman

Introduction to the philosophical evaluation of political power and the social and economic institutions through which it is exercised. Discussion of such questions as: What justification is there for government? What moral duties do citizens have? Are there…

PHI 105

Ancient Greek Philosophy

Instructor
Studtmann

Introduction to the origins and development of philosophy in ancient Greece, with special emphasis on Plato and Aristotle.

Counts towards the satisfaction of the Philosophy major requirement to take two courses from among PHI 105, PHI 106, and…

PHI 200

Symbolic Logic

Instructor
Studtmann

Systematic study of formal reasoning. Focus on the representation and evaluation of arguments in propositional and predicate logic. Additional topics vary, and may include meta-logic, modal logic, and non-classical logics.

Satisfires the Philosophy major requirement to take one…

Related Programs

Classics English Global Literary Theory Humanities Religious Studies Writing Program

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