Philosophy
Introduction
Whether you know it or not, you have done philosophy before – you have asked philosophical questions and you have taken (if only implicitly) philosophical positions. This might surprise you! What is it that you’ve supposedly been doing?
William James once said that “philosophy is the unusually stubborn attempt to think clearly,” and this is an apt description, for philosophers do seek clarity in what they think and what they say. Clarity about what, however? Clarity about reality and, specifically, about the ultimate nature of reality. It has thus been said that philosophy begins where science ends. For example, scientists presume the existence of the world that they investigate, while philosophers wonder about how the world came to be at all (“Why is there something rather than nothing?”). Scientists presume that we can know things, while philosophers wonder about the foundations of knowledge (“What constitutes knowledge, and how does knowledge differ from opinion?”). Social scientists presume that human beings make moral distinctions and form political arrangements, while philosophers wonder about the nature of morality and the purpose of politics (“What distinguishes right from wrong action, or a good society from a bad one?”). Chances are, you’ve thought about such questions before—in a philosophy class, you will simply do so in a more rigorous and systematic way.
The Manhattanville philosophy department is committed to training students who can think clearly and critically, and yet charitably, who are passionate about truth and justice, and who are conversant with the rich history of philosophical inquiry, especially in the Western tradition. Whether you’re interested in majoring in philosophy, improving your critical thinking skills, or simply getting a better idea of what philosophy is all about, feel free to explore our website and contact us with any and all questions.
A Note on the Elephant in the Room: If you major in philosophy, inevitably you will be asked: “What can you do with a philosophy major?” Not to panic! Think of this as a rite of passage, and a chance to educate others about their misconceptions. For it turns out that one can do a lot with a philosophy major. Want to go to law school? Philosophy majors score higher on the LSAT than political science and pre-law majors. Thinking of business school? Philosophy majors score higher on the GMAT than economics and finance majors. Not interested in graduate school? Statistics show that more and more employers are seeking liberal arts majors for their communication and critical thinking skills, skills that philosophy majors have in spades. Check out this helpful link for the practical benefits of studying philosophy:
https://sites.google.com/site/whystudyphilosophy/
Of course, if you want to pursue graduate studies in philosophy so that one day you can teach the discipline to others, we can certainly help prepare you for that path. And always keep in mind that studying philosophy is simply good in itself. As Aristotle observed, all human beings by nature desire to know, and we desire, above all else, to know something about the “higher things,” about what constitutes happiness, for example, or whether there is a God. If we really do have such desires, then philosophy can help us live fulfilling and meaningful lives.
Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Students can either major or minor in Philosophy
Optional Minors
Students can minor in Philosophy
Career Ideas
Lawyer, Journalist, Author, Book or Magazine Editor, Research Analyst, Public Policy Analyst, Public Relations Specialist, Non-Profit Director, Business Manager, College Administrator, Professor, Primary or Secondary School Teacher, Minister
Program Administrators
Siobhan Nash-Marshall, Mary T. Clark Chair of Christian Philosophy, (914)323-7161, Siobhan.NashMarshall@mville.edu
Faculty and Staff
PROGRAM CHAIR
Mary T. Clark Chair of Christian Philosophy
Siobhan Nash-Marshall - Metaphysics, Medieval Philosophy, Boethius, Thomism, Neoplatonism, Philosophy of Religion, Epistemology, Metaphysics of Knowledge, Genocide
FULL-TIME FACULTY
Paul Kucharski - Normative Ethics, Applied Ethics, Philosophy of the Person, History of Western Philosophy, Philosophy of Law, Philosophy of Religion
Overview
The department of philosophy has always taken a certain pride of place at Manhattanville College. In her now famous speech, “Principles vs. Prejudices” (1938), Mother Dammann described philosophy as that which “unified” a Manhattanville education, because it cultivated in students “the power to think and to reason and to compare and to discriminate and to analyze.” Today, over seventy years after Mother Dammann’s speech, the department continues to carry out her charge. We believe that the study of philosophy is just as indispensable for today’s Manhattanville students: confronted with an ever-changing, pluralistic world, their ability to analyze and evaluate is crucial for their well-being and success.
The Manhattanville philosophy department offers courses in both the history of philosophy and in the major fields of philosophy. We believe that both are necessary for a truly robust philosophical education. Our faculty members are dynamic teachers and accomplished scholars, active both in the lives of their students and in the various professional activities of their discipline. Our majors are exposed to many exciting and unique academic opportunities because of our proximity to New York City, which houses a broad and vibrant philosophical community of scholars and students.
We take as our model the late Sr. Mary T. Clark, a renowned Augustine scholar who taught philosophy at Manhattanville College for over 40 years. Sr. Clark, herself a Manhattanville graduate, once remarked: “The gift I received from my Manhattanville education was the realization that there is no freedom without truth.” Sr. Clark strove tirelessly to give this same gift to her students, as we do for ours.