B.A. Philosophy

Philosophy, quite generally, is critical thinking. It requires deep consideration, reflection and evaluation, be it of ideas, principles, approaches, or even of the very tools or processes of understanding, reflection and evaluation. The essence of philosophy is formulating and asking questions. How one asks a question can determine the likelihood of success in finding an appropriate answer. Philosophy teaches students not what is true, but rather how to think. It is exercising mental muscles; and engaging in philosophy means improving clarity of expression, honing analytical skills, and gaining appropriate tools for logical and critical evaluation. Being skilled in thinking about things philosophically makes one good at going beyond narrow views about nearly any issue. It makes one adept at drawing out the implications of an approach and thereby providing a sound basis for formulating alternatives and evaluating competing claims.