At-a-Glance
Minimum hours required for major: 32, including 16 hours of core courses in logic and the history of philosophy, PHL 491 (4 hours) and 12 hours of electives, as described below
Minimum hours required for minor: 16 credit hours selected from courses eligible to count for the major
Advising: Designated faculty adviser; phone 216-687-3900.
Philosophy addresses fundamental questions about human knowledge and existence from constructive and critical perspectives. Students examine important historical and contemporary theories concerning ethics, social justice, reality and the nature and extent of knowledge. Logic is also central to philosophy, since the critical evaluation of the reasons given for ideas is as important as the study of the ideas themselves. For this reason, philosophy classes are well known for the presentation of philosophical problems and issues in a manner that stimulates questions, discussion, and a general appreciation for the pursuit of truth.
A philosophy major or minor is excellent preparation for fields such as law and business, which rely on skills of critical thinking, as well as for fields such as medicine and social work, where practitioners face ethical dilemmas in their work. Though useful in many careers, the study of philosophy can be expected to enrich a person’s life beyond the rewards of the marketplace, through a deeper understanding of important beliefs and their foundations.