Welcome to the Department of Philosophy at Union College
This page is a guide both to our website and to the study of philosophy at Union.
Whether you're a first-year student thinking about taking your first philosophy course, a senior majoring in philosophy, or a visitor from another institution, we hope you will find the site helpful.
Robert Baker, William D. Williams Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Rapaport Everyday Ethics Across the Curriculum Initiative, and Chalmers Clark, Visiting Associate Professor of Philosophy, will join with Udo Schuklenk, editor of Bioethics, Barbara Katz Rothman (CUNY), and other bioethicists to discuss to discuss current controversies in genetics, religion and big pharma at the Bioethics International Conference on New Dilemmas in Medicine on 23 May 2008. The UN affiliate conference is sponsored by Bioethics International, IHEU and the Appignani Center for Bioethics. It will be held at 777 United Nations Plaza 2nd floor, from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. A reception at the Romanian Consulates follows from 7:00-9:30 PM. For information on the program and registration, see http://www.bioethicsinternational.org/?page_id=16
The Philosophy Department is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Mark Wunderlich (PhD Arizona) as Visiting Assistant Professor for the academic year 2008-09.
Please click on the following link to view a description of current job openings in the Department: Jobs 2008
Click on "Academics" on the navigation bar at the left of this page to view philosophy course descriptions for fall 2008-09.
Andy Krauss '08, double philosophy and mechanical engineering major, has been awarded a Watson Fellowship. Andy will travel to Tonga, the Cook Islands and the French Polynesia to research the development of outrigger canoes and paddles. Congratulations Andy!
Union College hosted the 11th annual National Undergraduate Bioethics Conference on April 4 and 5, 2008. The theme was "The Human Use of Human Beings in Medicine and Science." Conference link: Nubc
Jasmine Maldonado will be presenting her research on mental illness and the death penalty at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, April 9-12.
Professor Linda Patrik and two philosophy students, Emily Brunelle and Jasmine Maldonado, have been awarded an ASIANetwork Faculty-Student Research grant for research on gender in Japan this summer.
The Philosophy Department now offers internships for course credit. For more information, see the Academics Homepage: Academics.
It is thinking clearly and logically about deep questions: Who am I? What is a person? What ought I to do? Is genuinely free choice or action possible? How can I distinguish truth from falsehood, reality from illusion? What is reality? What is truth? What is knowledge? How is it distinguished from mere true belief? How is it best acquired? What is beauty? How should society be organized? How ought people to act toward one another? What, if anything, is the meaning of my life?
In philosophy courses at Union, we study the best efforts that people have made to answer such questions. But not just to answer them. We are especially interested in examining the reasons people have given in favor of their answers. In philosophy, as opposed to religion or mysticism, we test proposed answers by bringing them before the bar of reason. Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Whether or not that's so, in our courses we aim not only to test others' answers, but to provide you with the motivation and skills you need to critically and imaginatively examine your own.
Although you may not know it, you already have a philosophy! Everyone does. However, you may not have a philosophy that you've thought about carefully. Few do. The reason we know that you already have a philosophy is that everyone's thought and actions occur against the backdrop of assumptions about nature, human life, and themselves. However, having a philosophy is not the same as living an examined life. Living an examined life requires uncovering and then critically assessing these hidden assumptions. Philosophy at Union will help you to do this.
As many realize, philosophy addresses some of life's most important questions. As it happens, although many don't realize it, philosophy also has great practical value, including as preparation for one of the professions, such as law. Even so, philosophy is not for everyone. It is a discipline that aims at excellence. Answers to life's big questions that are clear, thoughtful, and worthy of belief do not come easily. Finding them requires patience and perseverance. Many people want ready-made answers; philosophy is not for them. Spinoza put it best: "All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare."
For students new to philosophy: We recommend our introductory-level courses (numbered from 100 to 199). Descriptions for all courses offered this year can be found on the Courses page. You might want to start with Introduction to philosophy (PHL 100); a course in one of its main branches, such as Introduction to Ethics (PHL 105); or Logic and Critical Thinking (PHL 125), which teaches the skills you'll need as a philosopher. First-year students also have the option of beginning their studies with the Freshman Seminar in Philosophy (PHL 120).
For more experienced students: Perhaps you've already taken some courses with us and been bitten by the philosophy bug. If you're considering becoming a major or an ID major, see the page for Majors for some insight on why becoming a philosophy major may be a good idea. In the same place, you will find advice on how best to study philosophy while at Union.
Every member of the Philosophy Department is an advisor. Each of us has regular published office hours and is available to meet you by appointment at many additional times. (Our e-mail addresses and phone numbers are available on the Faculty page.) We are eager to talk with you, even if you're merely curious about exploring philosophy as a field of study.
Everyone is welcome to take part in the many student activities sponsored by the Department. Under the Activities page, you'll find details about the Philosophy Club; the undergraduate philosophy journal, Ephemeris; the Philosophical Café; the Ethics Bowl; and our monthly Logic Puzzle Contest.
The Department also sponsors more formal events, including a series of Philosophy Talks given by distinguished guest speakers from all over the country. Occasionally we also have lunch-time talks in the Humanities Lounge. These events are open to anyone who is interested. If you would like to be put on our mailing list for these events, please e-mail us at philosophy@union.edu.
Please take a look around our website, and feel free to Contact us with any questions.