​Philosophy

The study of philosophy is more than just the accumulation of knowledge; it is the development of a love of wisdom. It is the search for answers to the great questions that have inspired wonder throughout the ages by some of the world's greatest minds, including Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and the revered 13th century Dominican scholar, St Thomas Aquinas.

At Providence College, all students are introduced to philosophy as part of the core requirements. From this first experience of philosophy, many students are attracted to pursue the discipline further. In studying philosophy, students are led on a path to discover the answers to great questions, while cultivating habits of critical thinking, analysis, and moral reasoning.

The Department of Philosophy offers both a Major and a Minor in Philosophy; students often combine their philosophy studies with a second major or minor. Ethics, logic, and metaphysics are among the required courses of study, along with ancient and modern philosophical themes. Electives include topics such as Asian Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Biomedical Ethics, and the Philosophy of Science.

The study of philosophy provides exceptional preparation for almost any professional career - including business, health care, law, and medicine - in that it develops students' ability to construct and analyze arguments, read and write critically, clearly express substantive ideas, and approach problems reflectively. As a result, the student of philosophy can be depended upon to approach reflectively any problem he or she encounters and to have the intellectual wherewithal to solve it.

Among the famous students of philosophy are actors Harrison Ford and Steve Martin, movie director Woody Allen, mystery writer Mary Higgins Clark, former denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, and U.S. President Bill Clinton.