Welcome to the Philosophy Department at Sweet Briar College!

At Sweet Briar, we involve students directly in the process of exploring and developing philosophical ideas in the context of an intense encounter with the faculty, other students, and the writings of those philosophers widely acknowledged to be profound, provocative, or both. The student will study philosophy by being a philosopher--and, as such, will be engaged in a search for the definition, expansion, and deepening of her own world view.

We have expanded our courses in ethics to include animal ethics and environmental ethics. In addition, we offer logic, a complete sequence in the history of philosophy, political philosophy, and courses on philosophy of science and philosophy and film. Perhaps the most important course in our curriculum is Modernism to Postmodernism which examines the theoretical underpinnings of today’s rapidly changing intellectual and cultural climate. In this course, you will learn how challenges to Enlightenment notions of truth, knowledge, and human nature have opened the way for new and exciting discussions about the role of power, desire, language, and cultural difference in contemporary society. You will also become familiar with several key postmodern and poststructuralist philosophers who have exerted a profound influence not only on philosophy, but throughout the humanities and the social sciences as well.

The Department prides itself on offering intellectual discipline relevant to all areas of the curriculum and to many different career pathways. Recent majors have attended law school at Georgetown and Washington and Lee, pursued medicine at Temple University, and studied philosophy at the graduate level at University of Oregon, Syracuse University, and Boston College. Other recent graduates have pursued careers in business, education, and non-profit organizations.

 

Site maintained by Courtney Cunningham. email me with any questions or comments.