Encompassing ancient traditions of inquiry concerning the nature of reality and the good life as well as contemporary investigation of issues in a wide variety of disciplines, philosophy addresses fundamental questions of human experience. Students who choose philosophy think carefully and critically, interpret challenging texts, and understand better “how things in the broadest sense of the term hang together in the broadest sense of the term” (in the words of one noted philosopher). This major offers excellent preparation for any line of work in which the virtues of clear thought and expression are prized. The Ethics, Law, and Politics Specialization is a designed to offer students an opportunity for a more sustained engagement with philosophical value theory, and this track may be especially suitable for students contemplating careers in the law or other professions where a grounding in value theory is desirable or necessary.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will be able to:

• state a thesis about a philosophical problem or text, explain the thesis, and provide evidence and argument (including replies to counter-arguments) in its defense.
• explain and interpret the ideas associated with major figures and movements in philosophy, and analyze issues and problems in the different main branches of philosophical inquiry.
• distinguish better and worse reasoning, and recognize relevant logical relationships and patterns of inference.
• show what is at stake in an abstract debate, historical or contemporary, and indicate how a philosophical view might have concrete implications or make a difference in theory or practice.