Philosophy Department Web-Page
Philosophy Programmes
Philosophy 1600/2000 Series
Philosophy 3000 Series
Philosophy 4000 Series

Philosophy is the endeavour to understand the world and man's place in it, and to formulate this understanding in a critical and systematic fashion. Philosophers consider the nature of being and experience in all its diverse modes: the real, knowledge, esthetical and ethical values, society, scientific enquiry, and the elements of coherent argument.

Careful examination of the History of Philosophy is essential to establish not only the development but also the significance of philosophical categories. To this end, many courses in this department are centered on the theories of major thinkers from the sixth century B.C. up to and including the twentieth century. Other courses, in logic, the philosophy of science, axiology and aesthetics, examine specific issues.

Because philosophical issues are fundamental rational concerns they are intimately involved in the conceptions and values of Western Civilization. A thorough grounding in the discipline at the undergraduate level, then, is sound background for subsequent work in an almost limitless variety of endeavours: education, law, business, in the church or politics, in the various forms of social work and even in medicine and allied fields.

Basic Courses
The Humanities 1600-series of three credit courses offered by the participating disciplines of Classics, History, Philosophy and Religious Studies are designed to acquaint beginning students with the varieties of non-fictional literature treated by this group of departments, to introduce the methodologies typical of these disciplines, to familiarize students with the approaches taken as well as the sorts of themes pursued and questions raised in treating this literature. The 1600-series three credit courses are designed to be similar in format and requirements; two three credit courses drawn from this series may be used to satisfy the introductory requirements of the co-operating departments, as noted in their respective Calendar entries.

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