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Schopenhauer
The Philosophy Department at Amherst College promotes the following:
- familiarity with the central figures and texts in the history of philosophy, both ancient and modern;
- familiarity with, and thoughtful reflection upon, contemporary philosophical topics and practices;
- the ability to read, analyze, and articulate arguments in primary philosophical texts and in classroom discussion, and to provide a fair and balanced evaluation of them;
- the ability to communicate clearly, precisely, and cogently in speech and writing;
- the ability to offer original arguments in support of philosophical positions; and
- the ability to anticipate and even welcome objections to one’s views, and to respond to these objections reasonably, imaginatively, and respectfully.
Students who complete the philosophy major will reach a high level of mastery in all these areas. In addition, they:
- will acquire a broad understanding of the work of major figures in the history of philosophy from ancient Greece to the twentieth century;
- will develop a deeper and more detailed understanding of a major historical figure or movement;
- will become conversant with essential questions and ideas in the core areas of philosophy such as ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of language;
- will engage intensively with cutting-edge philosophical investigations; and
- will learn basic formal logic and how to apply logical techniques in philosophy and elsewhere.
Tags:
Philosophy Major