Philosophy Mission Statement and Department Goals
Mission
Statement:
The Philosophy Department
seeks to help all Wofford students develop into mature, independent thinkers
who will make positive contributions to their communities. For
those who choose to major or minor in philosophy, the department also seeks to provide
sufficient opportunity for them to develop skills and philosophical
sophistication to a degree appropriate for a high-quality liberal arts
institution. The
department also aims to support the College’s liberal arts mission by offering
a strongly interdisciplinary curriculum
Departmental
Goals:
I. Through required General Education courses, the
Philosophy Department aims to help all students
- think critically about the various options
surrounding an issue
- recognize and evaluate patterns of argument
- develop facility with complex and abstract
concepts
- develop an understanding of different points of
view
- resist the tendency to make premature judgments
II. For students who major or minor in philosophy, the
department seeks to maintain a program of courses that will enable them to
develop
- a familiarity with the historical development of
Western philosophy
- a knowledge of fundamental concepts of
philosophy and the ability to use those concepts correctly
- the ability to state, criticize and defend a
position philosophically.
III.
By offering a wide range of interdisciplinary courses,
the department seeks to
- enable students to recognize and understand the
interconnections between diverse fields of knowledge
- encourage all students and faculty to consider
the broader implications of their work and study
- foster the growth and development of
intellectual community throughout the College