Philosophy is the love of wisdom, and experience teaches us that wisdom comes from asking questions. This is what we do in philosophy. In asking questions we are working in the spirit of Socrates who famously claimed, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates also called himself a "gadfly" disturbing the state, and the questions we ask may make others and ourselves uncomfortable. Our task is to help people have the courage to think critically and for themselves and to learn to make good decisions in muddled and ambiguous conditions.
What kinds of questions do we ask? These are some examples:
The Philosophy Department is deeply committed to the College's mission of providing intellectual and moral preparation for responsible living and meaningful work in the context of our Catholic Benedictine heritage. In a particular way we try to express the Benedictine values of community, hospitality, respect, stewardship, and above all, love of learning in our work together. We also are at the heart of liberal education with its goals of critical thinking, intellectual integrity, aesthetic appreciation, and intellectual curiosity.