Teaching the philosophical tradition
One of the hallmarks of philosophy in a Catholic college is attention to the philosophical tradition from which much philosophizing draws its inspiration. Accordingly, there is a strong emphasis in our discipline on the history of philosophy, as reflected in the curriculum for majors and minors and in the general education courses we teach.
Moreover, we structure our curriculum so that students will have the best opportunity to takes courses sequentially so that they can appreciate the course of philosophical thought and the engagement of ideas over time: from the ancient period, to the medieval, to the modern and the contemporary. As with any reputable discipline, our faculty possesses expertise in these areas through focused academic preparation, ongoing scholarly research and enthusiastic interest.
Our concern with this history is not merely antiquarian, for we believe that all of the great philosophers from the tradition have something important to say. We challenge our students not only to gain understanding of the various philosophical ideas and positions but also to reflect critically on these views and to debate their plausibility and logical and conceptual coherence.
Our hope is that students not only will gain an improved facility for critical thinking that will empower them to have a better understanding of their world but also will apply their intellectual skills to moral, social and political issues and problems, with the goal of making the world a better place.
A particularly important part of the philosophical tradition for a Catholic institution is, of course, the philosophies articulated by Catholic philosophers and those thinkers who are in dialogue and debate with them. It goes without saying that such philosophers are prominent in our course in Medieval Philosophy but they are also highlighted in many other courses we teach:
- Aquinas can be found in a section of Philosophy of Human Nature and in courses on The Soul and in Ethics
- Augustine is also taught in sections of Philosophy of Human Nature, as well as in Medieval Philosophy and in Classical and Medieval Political Thought.
- In Skepticism, Knowledge and Faith there is a focus on Catholic philosophers such as Augustine, Anselm and Pascal and in Modern Philosophy the figure of Descartes is central to the attempt to reconcile the Christian/Catholic worldview with the developments in early modern science.
- There are also more recent Catholic thinkers that appear in Philosophy of Human Nature and in the Existentialism course, including Thomas Merton, Gabriel Marcel and Miguel de Unamuno.
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Fulfilling the mission
Teaching the philosophical tradition
Emphasis on values and critical thinking
Personal and spiritual development
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