Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Website: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/arts-sciences/departments/philosophy-religious-studies/index.html

Faculty

Professor Ian Smith, PhD, Chair
Associate Professor Rik Hine, PhD
Lecturer Justin Moss, PhD

Mission

Consistent with the missions of the University and the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies is dedicated to providing high-quality undergraduate courses in philosophy and religious studies, providing the educational foundations for life-long critical thinking, engaging in research and scholarly activities in these and related areas and to serving the University and its various communities. The Department emphasizes excellence in teaching undergraduate students.

Description of Discipline

Philosophy focuses on fundamental questions concerning the nature of reality, knowledge, and values: metaphysics seeks to understand the true nature of reality in general and of humankind in particular; logic and epistemology endeavor to determine valid methods of reasoning and the limits and criteria of knowledge; and ethics attempts to formulate the basic moral norms by which our choices and actions should be governed. Through the study of philosophy, students can improve their understanding of themselves and the world in which they live. They can increase their command of intellectually responsible methods of establishing and evaluating beliefs and theories. They can also develop more effective ways of determining their moral duties.

In general, the study of philosophy helps to develop the ability to think clearly. If one understands how to think clearly, one can apply the techniques of critical and constructive thinking to the study of any discipline or to the concerns of any occupation. The department’s philosophy curriculum provides an opportunity for all students, whether majoring in philosophy or not, to be educated in the methods of critical and constructive thought through reflection on the fundamental presuppositions of knowledge in general and of individual disciplines—such as science, mathematics, law, religion, and art—in particular.

Student Learning Outcomes

Philosophy students at Washburn University, upon graduation, are expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to think critically, using both natural and artificial languages.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the major figures and movements in Ancient, Modern, and Contemporary Philosophy.
• Explain important theories and the views of major figures in Metaphysics and Epistemology.
• Explain important theories and the views of major figures in Value Theory.
• Formulate and evaluate philosophical positions critically and systematically.
• Construct well-reasoned, well-integrated essays based on philosophical research.
• Defend philosophical positions in an oral format.

Pre-Law

An individualized course of study for pre-law students may be designed in cooperation with the Department’s pre-law advisor.

Philosophy Program Honors

Honors candidates are those who both have a 3.5 overall GPA at the beginning of the senior year and an intention to finish with Honors by enrolling in PH 398 rather than PH 397.

Programs

Course Offerings