Philosophy investigates life's most fundamental questions – the kinds of questions that science can't (and doesn't even try to) answer: Is the human mind reducible to the human brain? What is knowledge? How can we reason better? What principles should govern our social and political lives? Our courses pursue answers to such questions by studying ethics, law, social and political philosophy, logic, metaphysics, and epistemology. We take up controversies associated with race, gender, religion, politics, economics, science, technology, and artificial intelligence, subjecting arguments on all sides to respectful cross-examination, because philosophy is a search for truth, not mere consensus. Philosophy courses will thus sharpen a student's critical thinking and argumentative writing skills – skills prized by graduate schools, law schools, and employers in virtually any domain.

PROFESSORS
Daniel Cullen. 1988. M.A. Dalhousie University. Ph.D. Boston College: political and  moral philosophy, philosophy of law, PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics), contemporary political theory 

Stephen Wirls. 1994. B.A. Kenyon College. Ph.D. Cornell University: modern political thought, philosophy and religion, existentialism, PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics)

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS
Erin Dolgoy. 2013. H.B.A. University of Toronto. M.A. University of Alberta. M.A. and Ph.D. Michigan State University: history of political thought, science and technology policy, United States politics

Rebecca Tuvel. Chair. 2014. B.A. McGill University. Ph.D. Vanderbilt University: philosophy of race, sex, and gender, feminist philosophy, applied ethics (especially ethics of identity and animal ethics). website: rebeccatuvel.com

ASSISTANT PROFESSORS
Jared Millson. 2021. B.A. Boston University. Ph.D. Emory University: epistemology, logic, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind. website: jamillson.com 

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS
Connor K. Kianpour. 2024. B.A. UC Davis. M.A. Georgia State University. Ph.D. University of Colorado, Boulder: ethics, applied ethics (especially bioethics & sexual ethics), social-political philosophy, aesthetics. website: connorkianpour.com

STAFF
Lorie Yearwood, Departmental Assistant. Email: yearwoodl@rhodes.edu 

A total of forty-four (44) credits as follows:

1. PHIL 200 (Critical Reasoning), PHIL 222 (Ethics), PHIL 486 (Senior Seminar). Note: Majors must take 200 and 222 at least one semester prior to taking 486.

    

2. At least one course from each of the following categories:
   1. Knowledge and Reasoning: PHIL 210 (Logic), PHIL 319 (Epistemology)
   2. Social Philosophy: PHIL 220 (Philosophy of Race and Racism), PHIL 225 (Justice, Equality, and Liberty), PHIL 355 (Feminist Philosophy)
   3. History of Philosophy: PHIL 201 (Ancient Philosophy), PHIL 345 (Modern Political Philosophy)
3. Electives: Five additional courses, only two of which can be at the 100 level and two of which must be at the 300-400 level. See "Courses of Instruction" for titles and descriptions of all Philosophy courses. Humanities 201 (Philosophy track) may be counted as one of those courses.

A total of twenty (20) credits as follows:

1. PHIL 200 (Critical Reasoning)
2. One 300-level PHIL course or above
3. Three additional PHIL courses at any level (no more than one 100 level course can count toward the minor). Humanities 201 (Philosophy track) may be counted as one of those courses.

1. Courses required: fulfillment of the requirements for a major in Philosophy.
2. Honors course: Philosophy 399
3. Examination: an oral examination on the honors essay and related field is required.
4. Approval of the honors project by the Philosophy Department Honors Committee is required.