莱莫恩学院

Why Study Philosophy at Le Moyne College?

How should we live our lives? How do we know what is just? What is good? The answers to these questions are urgent and central to happiness. While everyone asks themselves these questions at some point in their lives, a philosophy major tries to answer them.

But studying philosophy requires more than just thinking about the big questions. It requires you to read critically and think logically. It challenges you to debate ideas and discover new possibilities. It invites you to solve problems and reevaluate the world around us. By studying philosophy, you’re training yourself to tackle any problem, any task, or any “big question” you come across in life. Whether you use it in your future career, graduate studies, or in your everyday interactions with those around you, your philosophy training will sharpen your mind and encourage you to live a meaningful, well-examined life.

Program Highlights

We are a large philosophy department for a small college with a small number of majors: the ratio of majors to full-time faculty is less than two to one. The department’s areas of strength include social and political philosophy, aesthetics (i.e., philosophy of art), ethics, and the history of philosophy (particularly ancient and medieval philosophy).

Careers

Philosophy prepares students for every career. More than any other major, the Philosophy major trains students to think critically. Students learn how to logically evaluate and assess reasoning, construct their own arguments, and consider alternative possibilities with a view to strengthening their own positions. Philosophy students are also trained to present arguments persuasively in both speech and writing. These skills translate into the abilities to communicate effectively and to problem-solve in creative and imaginative ways. Critical thinking is required in every career. So, there is no career path that will not be enhanced by the study of philosophy. Le Moyne Philosophy graduates have held such jobs as:

• Consultant on Bioethics and Public Policy
• Librarian/Treasurer
• Director of Knowledge Management
• Executive Director of Advancement
• Dean of Students