Welcome to the Philosophy Department at Sweet Briar College!

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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 are currently expanding our courses in ethics to include environmental ethics, medical ethics and business 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 the arts. 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 philosophers (e.g., Nietzsche, Heidegger, Derrida, Foucault, and Irigaray) who have exerted a profound influence not only in philosophy, but throughout the humanities and the social sciences as well.

The Department prides itself on offering intellectual discipline which is relevant to all areas of the curriculum and to many different career pathways. Darelle Pfeiffer, a double major in philosophy and biology who graduated in 1998, has just received her Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University. Alexa Schriempf was awarded a full fellowship to study philosophy at the University of Oregon in 1997; and Christa Shusko, a 2000 double major in philosophy and religion, received a full fellowship to study religion at Syracuse University. This year's graduates include presidential medalist Casey Knapp, who has been accepted to the School of Law at Washington and Lee; Ashley Rogers, who is pursuing an advanced degree in language studies; and Mindy Wolfrom, who is attending philosophy graduate school at Boston College.