DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
GENERAL
INTRODUCTION
Philosophy
is concerned with fundamental
issues that arise when human beings think about the nature of the
universe,
their own nature, their relationship to the world and to one another.
Is
the universe really physical or is it the product of some mind? What is
mind, and what is its relation to matter? Are we capable of free choice
or is our every act determined by past events? What makes for a morally
right act or a just society? How good is our evidence for the beliefs
we
hold? These are the kinds of questions that are addressed by
philosophers.
But the primary methods of
Philosophy
are not the empirical methods of disciplines like Physics or History;
the
answers to philosophical problems are not to be found "under rocks";
the
answers are to be found, not by looking hard, but by thinking hard.
Philosophy's methods involve the
critical
evaluation of fundamental assumptions, for instance, the assumption
that
human beings have free will, analysis of concepts, such as the concepts
of freedom and causation, and the construction and evaluation of
arguments
criticizing or supporting positions on philosophical issues.
Philosophy's
reliance on reasoning has historically led philosophers such as
Aristotle
and Frege to develop systems of logic, and these are an integral part
of
the philosophical toolbox.
Students of philosophy who become
adept
at analysis of issues, concepts, and evidence, who are able to
construct
and critique arguments, and who can forge and express coherent views on
complex matters are well-prepared to enter the fields of law, medicine,
the ministry, and, of course, education. In addition to critical and
writing
skills, students of Philosophy acquire knowledge of value theory,
political
philosophy, ethics, logic, metaphysics, and epistemology, which provide
excellent preparation for careers in the above fields, and others as
well.
The Philosophy Department at Wayne
State
University boasts a distinguished and ongoing tradition of pursuing
analytic
philosophy in a spirited, lively, and productive fashion. The
Philosophy
Department offers courses of study leading to the B.A. degree with a
major
or a minor in Philosophy, at the undergraduate level, and the M.A. and
Ph.D. degrees, at the graduate level.
You are invited to browse these
pages
to meet our faculty, learn about our undergraduate and graduate
programs,
find out about colloquia (to which the public is invited), and send for
application materials. If you would like to be included on our mailing
list, just contact the Philosophy Department at the address and/or
phone
number on our
home page; or just e-mail
the
Chair.