Non-concentrators

One frequent motivation for incorporating philosophy into a program of study whose main focus lies elsewhere is the fact that philosophy deals with the methods and fundamental concepts that figure in most other areas of human intellectual interest. Thus the combination of philosophy with another field can enrich the study of that subject by encouraging reflections on its procedures and comparisons with the procedures of other disciplines. For this reason philosophy can be usefully combined the virtually any other program of study. We emphasize that such combinations can shed light not only on the procedures of the other field but on those of philosophy itself. Thus students committed to philosophy should seriously consider combining it with the study of some other field as well. (Note, however, that the concentration does not specifically require work in a cognate field.)

Philosophy may be combined with other areas in various ways. One is to take a full concentration program in philosophy along with a concentration in another field. Another is to take just those philosophy courses that deal with one's primary interest. For example, a science concentrator might wish to take a sequence of courses leading to advanced work in the philosophy of science (e.g., 232, 383 and 420, perhaps with 422 or 423). Or a student interested in the arts might take a sequence on aesthetics or the philosophy of art (e.g., several of the following courses: 153, 319/419, 370, 412, 437, 439, 440). There are many other such possibilities. Yet another is to take a variety of courses in philosophy in separate areas, as a way of getting a broad and general view of the various styles of intellectual endeavor. Such a selection may be linked with an on going project, or it might just be a way of broadening your horizons and seeing what there is in the world to think about.

As before, even for people not concentrating or minoring in philosophy, the best thing to do in exploring what the Department has to offer is to talk to a concentration advisor. They will be more than happy to make suggestions about various possible combinations of interests and fields.