Overview
Justin Clark
Katheryn Doran (on leave spring 2024)
A. Todd Franklin
Marianne Janack
Russell Marcus, chair
Alessandro Moscaritolo Palacio
Alexandra Plakias
The goal of the Philosophy Department is to work with students to develop the skills of critical analysis, powerful speaking, and clear writing, skills alumni find of singular practical use in a wide variety of careers, and indispensable to their work as responsible citizens. We emphasize the value of philosophical examination for understanding broad issues that concern us all.
Students Will Learn to:
- Explain a range of philosophical views, historical and contemporary
- Identify philosophical problems in philosophy, other academic disciplines, or outside the academy
- Formulate their own views about philosophical problems in conversation with other philosophical works
- Defend those views cogently in writing and in speech
The concentration in philosophy consists of nine courses:
- PHIL-201, PHIL-203, and PHIL-550; and
- One logic course: either PHIL-100, PHIL-200, or PHIL-240; and
- Three additional courses at the 400 level, no more than one of which may be transferred from outside of Hamilton College; and
- Two electives in philosophy.
- Concentrators must also satisfy the Social, Structural, and Institutional Hierarchies (SSIH) requirement in a course so designated. Concentrators may satisfy the SSIH requirement with a course they are counting toward the concentration requirements 1-4 above
No more than one of the nine courses counted toward the concentration may be at the 100 level. Any course may be taken credit/no credit for the concentration or minor except 550.
Prospective concentrators are encouraged to complete PHIL-201, PHIL-203 and the logic requirement (either PHIL-100, PHIL-200, or PHIL-240) by the end of their sophomore year, but this is not required.
Senior concentrators complete the Senior Seminar (PHIL-550) in the fall of the senior year. Each student in PHIL-550 will complete a senior project.
Candidates for honors must have a 3.7 in all courses in Philosophy, and must also have an A in the senior project, and at least an A- in 550.
A minor in Philosophy consists in any five Hamilton Philosophy courses, with no more than one at the 100 level and at least one at the 400 level. No more than one course taken outside of Hamilton may substitute for one of the five.
First-year students may enroll in PHIL-200, PHIL-203, or PHIL-240 with no prerequisites. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors may enroll in PHIL-200, PHIL-201, PHIL-203, or PHIL-240 with no prerequisites.