Mission

The Moravian Philosophy Department sets out to awaken and nurture in students a curiosity for ultimate questions and a desire for an objective investigation into reality through critical, reflective, and imaginative processes. We strive to produce students with clear thinking abilities; excellent good argumentative and writing skills; tolerance of different beliefs, perspectives, and views, without thinking they need to be equally true; and with sensitivity toward societal values, such as justice, tolerance, and human rights, which are essential for a vibrant and flourishing democratic society.

Department Goals

  1. To give students a comprehensive presentation through primary texts of the major philosophers and philosophies of the Western philosophical tradition and non-Western traditions.
  2. To give students the logical tools to evaluate arguments and to construct good arguments.
  3. To teach students how to write and express their ideas and arguments clearly and persuasively.
  4. To teach students how to successfully complete scholarly writings in philosophy.
  5. To teach students to view issues from multifarious perspectives.
  6. To teach students to be independent critical thinkers who can develop and present original ideas and unique positions.
  7. To introduce students to contemporary, interdisciplinary real-world problems and have them address them through independent and critical thinking.

 Department Student Learning Outcomes

  1. To identify the major philosophers of the Western and non-Western philosophical tradition and their corresponding philosophical views, doctrines, and theories.
  2. To recognize the basic components of an argument.
  3. To identify fallacious arguments, and sound and cogent arguments.
  4. To demonstrate good writing skills.
  5. To accurately describe and critically analyze chief doctrines, theories, and ideas of the great philosophers of the past and present in detail.
  6. To assess philosophical issues from multifarious points of view.
  7. To develop original philosophical ideas and positions.
  8. To reflect on and contribute to contemporary, interdisciplinary world problems through independent and critical thinking.