Philosophy
Up until the 19th century philosophy was the main discipline in academia.
With the specialization of knowledge and the development of particular branches of sciences, the social sciences and the humanities, philosophy developed into its own as well. However, philosophy remains the only discipline that has conceptual ties to all the other disciplines in academia, such as philosophy of science, philosophy of social science, philosophy of history, aesthetics (art) and philosophy of language. Philosophy questions the fundamental conceptual foundations and assumptions of all the disciplines: For example, from the field of biology, What is life? Sociology: What is society? History: How do we understand, record and interpret the past?
Therefore, studying philosophy not only teaches you how to think, critically analyze knowledge and question fundamental assumptions but also makes you understand the conceptual presuppositions of all other disciplines better.
Our department always studies and evaluates philosophy within our concrete existence in the world. When we do not raise the foundational questions of life ourselves, we unconsciously live with the answers that are provided for us by those who exercise power over us. As an Earlham philosophy student, you will become aware of and question your own fundamental assumptions about life, work, value and relationships.
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Pondering essential questions
Philosophy raises, responds to and studies the fundamental questions and concepts of life and existence. However, philosophy does not do this in an abstract fashion but always within a historical, political and economic context. How should/could we live? What are the constraints on human existence in contemporary society? Can we live a just life in an unjust society?
Valuable experience
Philosophy students regularly present their scholarship at academic conferences or publish them in journals.
Off-campus study
Explore philosophical questions in off-campus programs, such as the Athens Democracy Forum.
Our faculty
Our department is not a traditional one. We do not just emphasize philosophy as a professional discipline but as a way of being in the world. We meet with students regularly outside of the classroom setting and engage in discussions, take walks together in pursuit of creating a philosophical community.