PHILOSOPHY
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The Dordt Difference One of the most important skills a Christian needs is discernment. In our cafeteria world of beliefs, you need to know what you believe and why. Studying philosophy helps you know what you think and know why you think as you do. Critical thinking—developing your reasoning, researching, and evaluating skills—will help you offer a biblically sensitive response to contemporary assumptions about the world in which we live. Dordt’s philosophy program and faculty will help you develop these skills by having you explore and evaluate underlying questions about the ways people think. As a philosophy major you’ll be introduced to the thinking of philosophers through the ages as well as to contemporary philosophical thinking. You will also be introduced to a Reformed, Christian philosophy, with an emphasis on a biblical worldview and its relationship to Christian theorizing. Only when we see things in the light of God’s Word can we as Christians see the world as it really is: His handiwork, subject to his will, distorted by sin, and called to obedience and healing in Christ Jesus.
FROM AN ALUMNUS “I received first-rate training at Dordt. I learned about schools of thought and the historical and cultural contexts for certain ways of thinking. Perhaps the more valuable aspect of Dordt’s philosophy training was its disciplined rigor. I currently practice law and, daily, am called upon to understand and interpret complex human and social arrangements in contracts, legislation, and judge-made common law. I have been greatly aided by the rigorous intellectual inquiry I gained in Dordt’s philosophy program.” Samir Gassanov (’98) is a lawyer with Gowlings law offices in Toronto, Ontario.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
THE PROGRAM A philosophy major consists of:
“The philosophy program at Dordt College taught me critical thinking skills that allowed me to examine all kinds of issues from a Christian perspective. The professors were great at showing how what I was learning in class had practical applications for just about all areas of life. I can truly say that I’ve carried with me and used what I learned at Dordt in both my graduate studies and in my career.” Michael Ten Haken (‘98), Pastor
• Core 200, in which you’ll examine your basic assumptions, survey the history of philosophy, study a biblical basis for a reformational worldview, and discuss what it is to “know” • Eleven courses, two of which can be courses from the engineering, political science, or theology curriculum • Advanced courses that focus on periods in the history of philosophy and the systematic study of topics such as anthropology, aesthetics, and logic You can personalize your study by taking an individual studies course. You and your advisor will select a subject you’d like to learn more about; you’ll then spend a semester researching and studying the topic under the supervision of a professor. Co-curricular activities, such as Philosophy Club, lectures, films, and discussions, give an opportunity to talk about current issues and ideas. Some of the most thoughtful and provocative contributions to the student newspaper have come from philosophy students.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES While philosophy lays a foundation for all majors, a relatively small number of students choose philosophy as a major. Those who do have been successful in finding careers. A number of our graduates have gone into the ministry or mission work; others have become college professors. Some have become lawyers. At least one is a cinematographer. Most of our graduates combine study in philosophy with another major because philosophy courses help you think systematically about other fields. Philosophyhelps you understand the fundamental assumptions upon which people base their actions and beliefs; they help you address the validity of arguments; and they help you respond coherently to the challenges of our age. Your philosophy courses will help you build and communicate an integrated, comprehensive vision for Christian discipleship, allowing you to offer leadership in a variety of positions and organizations.
THE FACULTY Dr. Neal De Roo, Ph.D., Boston College. Perspectives in philosophy, modern and contemporary philosophy, postmodernism, and Reformational systematic philosophy. Neal.DeRoo@dordt.edu Dr. Mark Tazelaar, Ph.D., Loyola University. Perspectives in philosophy, ancient and contemporary philosophy, perspectives in physical science. Mark.Tazelaar@dordt.edu July 2015