Manhattanville College

Academic Catalog

Philosophy

Introduction


Whether you know it or not, you have done philosophy before – you have asked philosophical questions and you have taken (if only implicitly) philosophical positions. This might surprise you! What is it that you’ve supposedly been doing?

William James once said that "philosophy is the unusually stubborn attempt to think clearly," and this is an apt description, for philosophers do seek clarity in what they think and what they say. Clarity about what, however? Clarity about reality and, specifically, about the ultimate nature of reality. It has thus been said that philosophy begins where science ends. For example, scientists presume the existence of the world that they investigate, while philosophers wonder about how the world came to be at all ("Why is there something rather than nothing?"). Scientists presume that we can know things, while philosophers wonder about the foundations of knowledge ("What constitutes knowledge, and how does knowledge differ from opinion?"). Social scientists presume that human beings make moral distinctions and form political arrangements, while philosophers wonder about the nature of morality and the purpose of politics ("What distinguishes right from wrong action, or a good society from a bad one?"). Chances are, you’ve thought about such questions before—in a philosophy class, you will simply do so in a more rigorous and systematic way.

The Manhattanville philosophy department is committed to training students who can think clearly and critically, and yet charitably, who are passionate about truth and justice, and who are conversant with the rich history of philosophical inquiry, especially in the Western tradition. Whether you’re interested in majoring in philosophy, improving your critical thinking skills, or simply getting a better idea of what philosophy is all about, feel free to explore our website and contact us with any and all questions.

A Note on the Elephant in the Room: If you major in philosophy, inevitably you will be asked: "What can you do with a philosophy major?" Not to panic! Think of this as a rite of passage, and a chance to educate others about their misconceptions. For it turns out that one can do a lot with a philosophy major. Want to go to law school? Philosophy majors score higher on the LSAT than political science and pre-law majors. Thinking of business school? Philosophy majors score higher on the GMAT than economics and finance majors. Not interested in graduate school? Statistics show that more and more employers are seeking liberal arts majors for their communication and critical thinking skills, skills that philosophy majors have in spades. Check out this helpful link for the practical benefits of studying philosophy:

https://sites.google.com/site/whystudyphilosophy/

Of course, if you want to pursue graduate studies in philosophy so that one day you can teach the discipline to others, we can certainly help prepare you for that path. And always keep in mind that studying philosophy is simply good in itself. As Aristotle observed, all human beings by nature desire to know, and we desire, above all else, to know something about the "higher things," about what constitutes happiness, for example, or whether there is a God. If we really do have such desires, then philosophy can help us live fulfilling and meaningful lives.


Degree

Bachelor of Arts

Students can either major or minor in Philosophy

Optional Minors

Students can minor in Philosophy


Career Ideas

Lawyer, Journalist, Author, Book or Magazine Editor, Research Analyst, Public Policy Analyst, Public Relations Specialist, Non-Profit Director, Business Manager, College Administrator, Professor, Primary or Secondary School Teacher, Minister


Program Administrators

Siobhan Nash-Marshall, Mary T. Clark Chair of Christian Philosophy, (914)323-7161, Siobhan.NashMarshall@mville.edu

Faculty and Staff

PROGRAM CHAIR

Mary T. Clark Chair of Christian Philosophy
Siobhan Nash-Marshall - Metaphysics, medieval philosophy, Boethius, Thomism, neoplatonism, philosophy of religion, Epistemology, Metaphysics of Knowledge

FULL-TIME FACULTY

Paul Kucharski - Ethics, medieval philosophy, Thomism, Normative Ethics

FACULTY EMERITUS

Raymond Langley

Overview

The department of philosophy has always taken a certain pride of place at Manhattanville College. In her now famous speech, "Principles vs. Prejudices" (1938), Mother Dammann described philosophy as that which "unified" a Manhattanville education, because it cultivated in students "the power to think and to reason and to compare and to discriminate and to analyze." Today, over seventy years after Mother Dammann’s speech, the department continues to carry out her charge. We believe that the study of philosophy is just as indispensable for today’s Manhattanville students: confronted with an ever-changing, pluralistic world, their ability to analyze and evaluate is crucial for their well-being and success.

The Manhattanville philosophy department offers courses in both the history of philosophy and in the major fields of philosophy. We believe that both are necessary for a truly robust philosophical education. Our faculty members are dynamic teachers and accomplished scholars, active both in the lives of their students and in the various professional activities of their discipline. Our majors are exposed to many exciting and unique academic opportunities because of our proximity to New York City, which houses a broad and vibrant philosophical community of scholars and students.

We take as our model the late Sr. Mary T. Clark, a renowned Augustine scholar who taught philosophy at Manhattanville College for over 40 years. Sr. Clark, herself a Manhattanville graduate, once remarked: "The gift I received from my Manhattanville education was the realization that there is no freedom without truth." Sr. Clark strove tirelessly to give this same gift to her students, as we do for ours.

Philosophy Major Requirements

Each student must satisfy the requirements for one of the four Philosophy tracks listed below. The requirements refer to courses within the concentrations, which follow.

Pre-Law Track. This approach to majoring in Philosophy is intended for students who wish to concentrate both on the study of the philosophical foundations of judgments concerning values and on the study of the principles that distinguish good from bad reasoning. This track is recommended for Philosophy majors who plan to attend law school. It requires ten philosophy courses and a Senior Thesis.

Foundations of a Good Life Track. This track is recommended for students whose concerns are less with job training and more with developing and implementing a life-long plan of study aimed at increasing their understanding of people, of historical and social structures, and of the arts, sciences, social sciences, humanities and world literature. Students who choose this track are typically also concerned with learning how to translate what one learns into the reality of a better life in the larger contexts of family and society. Requires ten philosophy courses and a Senior Thesis.

Graduate School in Philosophy Track. This way of obtaining a major in Philosophy is intended for those who plan to engage in philosophical research while teaching Philosophy or while pursuing a career either in public service or the private sector. It requires twelve courses in philosophy and a Senior Thesis.

Double Major Track. This approach to a major in Philosophy is designed primarily for students who wish to enrich their study of Philosophy with a major in a second subject (or visa-versa).] It requires ten philosophy courses and certification of having met the requirements for a major in another department.

Four Year Study Plan

In order to offer a strong and diverse curriculum with three faculty, most philosophy courses are only taught once every four or five semesters. Modal Logic and Symbolic Logic are typically offered only once every two years. However, Moral Reasoning, Human Values, Theory of Knowledge, Foundations, and Senior Thesis are typically offered every year. If a course is taught in student’s Junior year, odds are it will not be offered again before student graduates.

The department strongly urges majors to acquire a full-time faculty member in Philosophy as an academic advisor early on in their studies, and to be sure to consult with the department about major and career plans each semester during the last two years at the college.

Note: Independent Study Courses do not count toward any distribution requirements for the major or minor, and should not be assumed to increase one’s chances of pursuing further study upon graduation. When taught or supervised in whole or in part by other than full-time members of the department, they do not count toward a major or minor in Philosophy.

Senior Evaluation

Seniors pursuing the Pre-Law Track, the Graduate School Track, or the Foundations of a Good Life Track must register for the Senior Evaluation course (PHL 3998) the fall or spring semester of senior year. To complete this course the student must write a Senior Thesis and present and discuss it at a departmental meeting

Philosophy Minor Requirements

The minor in Philosophy requires five courses, at least three of which must be from the same area of concentration and at least one of which must be from the Major Figures Concentration.

Philosophy Departmental Honors

Departmental Honors requires a G.P.A. of 3.5 overall, 3.5 on all philosophy courses, and 3.5 within a concentration, and honors on Senior Thesis (Double Major Track requires either honors on Thesis or 3.75 G.P.A. in your other major). See also "Honors and Awards."

Honors and Awards

Honors Logic Seminar, E. J. Lemmon Prize, Susan Stebbing Prize, Saul Kripke Prize, Ruth Barcan Marcus Prize, Thesis Honors, Departmental Honors.

Catalog Contents

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2015-2016 Undergraduate College Catalog

Manhattanville College Mission

Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy

Brief History of Manhattanville: History and Educational Commitment

Letter to Parents

Inventory of Undergraduate Programs

Inventory of Graduate Programs

Graduate Programs List

Undergraduate Programs of Study(Majors, Minors & Requirements)

Full-Time Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Undergraduate Programs

Graduation Participation Requirements

Registration Requirements & Online Student Resources

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Transfer Credit Policy

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Grading and Grading Policies

Honors Options

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