Philosophy at St. Thomas

"The unexamined life is not worth living" -- so declared Socrates on trial for his life of philosophical inquiry.

The Philosophy Department at the University of St. Thomas is first and foremost about the examined life. We believe that exposure to the tradition of philosophy is essential to the process of liberal education, an education appropriate for a person free from the demands of constant labor and free to pursue activities that have provided humans in all ages and cultures with deep and lasting satisfaction--inquiries into the self and its place in the cosmos.

The department offers two courses that are part of the University's core of required courses. The first introduces students to basic tools of logic and to philosophical perspectives on human nature and personhood; the second introduces them to philosophical principles that underlie moral responsibility and to ways in which these principles apply to problems of the contemporary world.

Dr. Thomas Sullivan Featured in St. Thomas Magazine

The Fall 2008 edition of St. Thomas: The Magazine of the University of St. Thomas features an article on Dr. Thomas Sullivan, who has taught in the department for more than forty years.

Fall 2008 Philosophy Tutor Schedule

Five talented philosophy majors offer convenient drop-in assistance for students currently enrolled in philosophy courses. If you need help working through logic exercises, preparing for a test, or understanding general philosophical concepts, click here for the full tutoring schedule.

 

Department Co-Sponsors Conference

The Department of Philosophy is one of the sponsors of Mulieris Dignitatem and the Church's Social Vision: The Feminine Genius in the Pursuit of the Common Good which will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2008. Keynote speakers include Dr. Pia Francesca de Solenni, recipient of the 2001 Pontifical Prize of the Academies, who will speak on Aquinas and the Feminine Genius. Dr. Anne Maloney, College of St. Catherine, will present John Paul II and the Feminine Genius. The conference is part of the Women and the Recovery of Culture sister conferences taking place on campus from October 22, 2008, through October 24, 2008. Click here for the full conference schedule and registration information.