Philosophy

Department Chair - Stamper

Associate Professor - Jackson

Instructor - Jones

Adjunct Instructors - Braxton, Meyer, Phillips-Gary, Rostorfer, Rutt, Zelinski

Mission Statement

The mission of the Religion and Philosophy Department is to participate in the mission of Capital University by fostering the disciplined, critical study of the ways in which human individuals and cultures make meaning. Specifically, the Religion and Philosophy Department aims to develop in students the ability to engage in critical thinking, the ability to articulate and defend their ideas effectively, and the capacity for critical reflection on the goods of human existence, life, and work, in a manner that honors individual abilities and communal needs.

The specific mission of the philosophy program is to pursue the difficult foundational questions that lie at the roots of our thinking about many aspects of human existence and experience, such as, but by no means limited to: “What is relevant to judgments in ethics? and “Is there any basis for belief in God?”

Learning Outcomes

Philosophy is the pursuit of difficult foundational questions, such as:”What do we really know?” “What is relevant to judgments in ethics?” and “Are there any bases for belief in God?” These are difficult questions and they lie at the roots of our thinking about other things.

Students critique ideas central to the development of Western and Non-western philosophy including specific persons, concepts, traditions, and events.
Students express and articulate arguments and rebuttals using clear and effective written and oral communication.
Students critique arguments by identifying fallacies, constructing logical proofs, and assessing arguments both formally and informally to develop criteria for making value judgements.
Students evaluate beliefs and methodologies for generating personal, interpersonal, and cultural meaning as the grounding of personal and social identity by exploring the core subdisciplines of philosophy.
Students apply philosophical principles across a range of issues relevant to critical social problems, burgeoning fields of study, and under-represented groups and traditions. Students apply the core elements of philosophical discourse and the critical skills necessary for meaningful philosophical civic participation.
Students use philosophical ideas, concepts, and principles to identify and craft connections to future professional possibilities including the ability to pursue philosophy on their own.