Department Chair: Charles Wright

Faculty: Dennis Beach osb, Emily Esch, Jean Keller, Erica Stonestreet, Charles Wright

The CSB and SJU philosophy department focuses on two fundamental questions: What can we know? and How should we live? Thinking deeply about these questions is integral to the Catholic, Benedictine liberal arts tradition; it leads students to successful and meaningful professional and personal lives, and a better understanding of the requirements of citizenship. Our classes seek to rouse students from intellectual complacency and to encourage deeper understanding of themselves, of the conditions that make shared knowledge possible, and of the values of the communities to which they belong.

All courses are open to majors and non-majors. The study of philosophy serves as an excellent background for people entering many different professions.

Assessment

The Philosophy Department conducts regular assessment of student learning---of majors and minors as well as students taking philosophy to meet general education requirements. We evaluate how well the department's curriculum improves students' comprehension of fundamental philosophical concepts as well as their ability to participate in well-reasoned discussions of these ideas. We also evaluate the extent to which philosophy enables students to perceive greater complexity in the human and natural worlds; whether philosophy improves students' abilities and their willingness to engage in critical thinking; and whether it might affect students' engagement in and commitment to lifelong learning.

The Philosophy Department regards a major in philosophy as preparation for a thoughtful and deliberate life. We seek to maintain contact with majors after graduation to learn how they are doing and how well they think the department prepared them for their life path.

Majors

Minors