Philosophy
Philosophy majors learn two different but closely related kinds of things. First of all, one learns how some of humanity’s greatest
and most profound thinkers have tried to answer certain basic and perennial questions. Among these are questions about morality, about our
knowledge of the world, about the existence of God, about the relation between mind and body, and about the conditions of a just society.
These quite general questions and the answers to them that have been advanced represent some of the most important themes in the history of
our civilization. Acquaintance with this material is a necessary component of a balanced liberal education.
A philosophy major, however, does more than simply learn the views held by various philosophers. For in attaining a grasp of those views he or she must extract the principal points from complex material, evaluate the soundness of the arguments involved and, most important of all, justify his or her own position on any given topic. Writing papers, an integral part of almost any philosophy class, requires the ability to express one's thoughts in a lucid and concise fashion and to defend them cogently. These components of a philosophical training enable the philosophy major to develop sophisticated skills that are valuable in almost any field in which one might work, from business through law to highly technical scientific fields, including medicine. Two of the benefits of a balanced liberal education are to provide you with knowledge and skills that will last a lifetime, and the aspects of philosophy we have mentioned do have exactly those benefits. (from The University of Virginia Department of Philosophy)
Philosophy Major Requirements
Philosophy BA Sample 4-Year Course of Study
