What Is Philosophy?

The concept of philosophy is different for each person.  

To some, studying philosophy means attempting to answer difficult philosophical questions or topics. To others, it is recognized as studying the works of famous philosophers like Aristotle.  

But the philosophy degree offered through UC’s College of Arts and Science is designed to allow students to discover the tools of philosophy. 

The philosophy program gives students the opportunity to explore their own interests through debate and research.  

“Having gone through these different experiences, my outlook on how I look at these complex problems and form logical conclusions has become more refined,” Fields said.  

Additionally, the department hosts a two-day colloquium each year, which brings in experts in the world of philosophy to campus for students to delve further into the world of philosophy. This past year marked the 60th anniversary of the colloquium and was held in honor of retired philosophy professor Larry Jost. Jost taught at UC for over 50 years, starting in 1970.  

Each colloquium has a different theme every year, allowing students to interact with a plethora of topics within philosophy.  

Philosophy students at UC have the opportunity to choose which classes they take, allowing them to have the ability to pick curriculum that fits their future careers. 

“That freedom allows students to pursue their own topic-related interests through the philosophy curriculum,” Dunlap said. “If you’re interested in political philosophy, you chart a course through the major that emphasizes that topic. If you’re interested in metaphysics, you could do the same for that topic.” 

Notable classes within the philosophy major include: 

• Intro to Philosophy of Mind and Will
• How Science Works
• Sex and Death
• Intro to Ethics

The philosophy department has also begun offering a Taylor Swift-themed course and will continue it in fall of 2025, called Philosophy (Taylor’s Version). The class introduces students to the ideas of philosophy through a lens on the work and life of the singer. 

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this program, philosophy students have the opportunity to work in several types of industries. 

“Philosophy is great at teaching us that things—across virtually all domains of human knowledge—are much more complicated than we may have thought,” Dunlap said. 

This allows students to enter whatever industries they desire as students learn transferable skills, such as analytical and critical thinking. Popular industries graduates pursue include non-profits, government, social work and academia.

Other popular careers philosophy graduates pursue include:

• Education
• Research
• Library Science
• Medical Sales
• Screenwriting
• Health care

When deciding what to study at UC, Sarah Tessler, a 2024 graduate, knew she wanted to major in something that challenged her.  

“I have always been deeply curious, and I wanted to do something I knew was going to challenge me intellectually and encourage me to think abstractly,” Tessler said. “After looking into what kinds of courses were being offered, I knew philosophy was the right fit for me.”