Philosophy at ULethbridge Philosophy investigates fundamental questions about the nature of things — about the universe as a whole, about human beings, society, science, ethics and art. As a philosophy student, you will learn about the basic intellectual foundation for our political, social and legal systems, as well as our understanding of the principles of modern science and technology. You will explore deep theoretical, practical and moral issues that do not easily fit into more specialized disciplines. Philosophy will challenge you with its reflective and critical approach to important, often puzzling, questions about the nature of right and wrong, time and space, perception and the human mind. Philosophy pays careful attention to its long history, spanning more than 2,500 years. These early investigations are the focus of the department’s courses on ancient, early modern, late modern and 20th-century philosophers and philosophical movements. There are numerous branches within the study of philosophy, touching virtually every topic — from questions about God’s existence, through to aesthetic principles, to the concepts of space and time: • • • • •
Justice and Goodness: Investigates questions about right and wrong, or good and evil, such as biomedical ethics or environmental philosophy. Truth and Reality: Looks at truth and reality through areas such as logic, metaphysics, epistemology and the philosophy of science. Social Philosophical Concerns: Delves into fundamental social, philosophical issues addressed by political philosophy, ethics and the history of philosophy itself. Scientific Philosophical Concerns: Focuses on the conditions under which enquiry produces genuine truth and accurate representations of objective reality. Human Creativity and Artistic Expression: Evaluates concepts like beauty in disciplines such as aesthetics and the philosophy of art.
Philosophy Degrees. The Department of Philosophy offers a major in philosophy for the 40-course Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree programs. Alternatively, you can choose to do a general major in the humanities and select philosophy as one of your three streams. You can also opt for philosophy as your BA major for the Combined BA/BMgt program. Philosophy Courses. Courses in the reality stream inquire into the nature of knowledge, mind and matter, space and time, language and mathematics, religious beliefs and the basis of science. Courses in the values stream probe the distinction between right and wrong, the nature of beauty, the assumptions behind political theories and current ethical dilemmas. Courses in the history stream examine philosophers’ ideas and arguments from ancient Greece to the twentieth century.
All philosophy courses place a strong emphasis on developing the skills of clear writing and sound argumentation and the ability to see beneath the surface of the apparently obvious. Course selections for the program will vary, but may include: • Critical Thinking • Game Theory in Philosophy • Introduction to Ethics • Wittgenstein • Environmental Philosophy • Evolution & Ethics • Metaphysics • 17th-Century Philosophy: Descartes • Philosophy of Language to Leibniz Minors. Adding a minor to your degree is a great way to explore academic interests beyond your major. A minor is a set of courses comprising a secondary focus of interest. It is generally not related to your major. A minor may be required or optional. Minors are not available in all programs. You can declare a minor in philosophy in any 40-course BA, BSc or BASc program, except the major in philosophy and the general major in the humanities if philosophy is chosen as one of the disciplinary streams, by completing a minimum of six courses in philosophy and/or logic, including at least one at the 3000-level. Learn more at ulethbridge.ca/artsci/minors. Honours Thesis. If your GPA is high enough in your fourth year, you can opt to complete an undergraduate thesis course. This is an excellent opportunity for you to earn an “Honours Thesis” designation on your degree.
Learn more about philosophy at ULethbridge, visit ulethbridge.ca/philosophy
Our Faculty & Their Research The Department of Philosophy is internationally recognized for the quality of research conducted by its faculty members. Faculty are happy to involve undergraduate students in their research and often collaborate with other departments, community members and employers on projects — giving you the opportunity to get additional hands-on experience with renowned academics on a global stage. Current Research & Areas of Interest: • Paraconsistent Logic • Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics • Reasoning in Scientific Theories & Models • Philosophy of Biology • The Biological Species Concept • Evolution & Ethics
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Philosophy of Ecology Ethics Feminist Philosophy Philosophy of War Ludwig Wittgenstein Philosophy of Law Informal Reasoning