Philosophy explores life’s most fundamental questions: How should we live? What can we know? What are our rights and our legal and moral responsibilities? What does a just society require? 

Philosophers explore answers to such questions while putting them to a stress test. We help students develop the capacity to reason logically, evaluate arguments carefully, examine their own beliefs, engage thoughtfully with opposing views, and speak and write persuasively—skills every profession values.

We offer courses in logic, epistemology, ethics, social and political philosophy, philosophy of science, philosophy of religion, and the history of philosophy. Our curriculum includes classes such as Black Mirror and Philosophy (PHIL 105), Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PHIL 110), Critical Reasoning (PHIL 200), Ancient Philosophy (PHIL 201), Logic (PHIL 210), Philosophy of Law (PHIL 216), Conflicts of Law and Morality (PHIL 217), Philosophy of Race and Racism (PHIL 220), Ethics (PHIL 222), Justice, Equality, and Liberty (PHIL 225), Philosophy and Religion (PHIL 235), Philosophy, Power, and Politics (PHIL 301), Philosophy of the Cognitive Sciences (PHIL 312), Epistemology (PHIL 319), Modern Political Philosophy (PHIL 345), and Feminist Philosophy (PHIL 355). We also offer several applied ethics courses, including Issues in Clinical Bioethics (PHIL 303), The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (PHIL 320), Medical Ethics (PHIL 322), Sexual Ethics (PHIL 326), Animal Ethics (PHIL 332), and Philosophy of Death and Dying (PHIL 360).

The Philosophy Department also coaches the Rhodes College Ethics Bowl team. Ethics Bowl is a national intercollegiate debate-style competition where students learn to present well-reasoned arguments on real-world ethical issues. Teams are judged on their teamwork, reasoning skills, and the cogency of their arguments.

Professors

Daniel Cullen (1988)
M.A., Dalhousie University; Ph.D., Boston College
Areas: Political and moral philosophy, philosophy of law, Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE), contemporary political theory
Email: cullen@rhodes.edu 

Stephen Wirls (1994)
B.A., Kenyon College; Ph.D., Cornell University
Areas: Modern political thought, philosophy and religion, existentialism, Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE), markets and morals
Email: wirls@rhodes.edu 

Associate Professors

Erin Dolgoy (2013)
H.B.A., University of Toronto; M.A., University of Alberta; M.A., Ph.D., Michigan State University
Areas: History of political thought, science and technology policy, U.S. politics
Email: dolgoye@rhodes.edu 

Jared Millson (Chair) (2021)
B.A., Boston University; Ph.D., Emory University
Areas: Epistemology, logic, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind
Email: millsonj@rhodes.edu  Website: jamillson.com

Rebecca Tuvel (2014)
B.A., McGill University; Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
Areas: Philosophy of race and racism, philosophy of sex and gender, feminist philosophy, applied ethics
Email: tuvelr@rhodes.edu  Website: rebeccatuvel.com

Visiting Assistant Professors

Connor K. Kianpour (2024)
B.A., UC Davis; M.A., Georgia State University; Ph.D., University of Colorado Boulder
Areas: Ethics, applied ethics (especially bioethics and sexual ethics), social-political philosophy, aesthetics
Email: kianpourc@rhodes.edu  Website: connorkianpour.com

Staff

Lacey Beach, Departmental Assistant
Email: beachl@rhodes.edu

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

I. Core Requirements (3 courses, 12 credits):

• PHIL 200: Critical Reasoning (F6)
• PHIL 222: Ethics (F1)
• PHIL 486: Senior Seminar
  • Note: PHIL 200 and PHIL 222 must be completed at least one semester before PHIL 486 and should ideally be taken by the end of the sophomore year.

II. Distribution Requirements (3 courses, 12 credits):
At least one course from each of the following categories:

• Knowledge and Reasoning:
  • PHIL 210: Logic (F6)
  • PHIL 319: Epistemology
• Social and Political Philosophy:
  • PHIL 220: Philosophy of Race and Racism (F8, F9)
  • PHIL 225: Justice, Equality, and Liberty
  • PHIL 355: Feminist Philosophy
• History of Philosophy:
  • PHIL 201: Ancient Philosophy (F1)
  • PHIL 345: Modern Political Philosophy

III. Electives (5 courses, 20 credits):
Five additional Philosophy courses, with the following constraints:

• No more than two may be at the 100-level
• At least two must be at the 300–400 level
• Humanities 201 (Philosophy track) may count as one elective
• Note: While not required, Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 105) is recommended for first-year students.

Sample Philosophy Electives Include:

• PHIL 105: Black Mirror and Philosophy (F2i) or The Big Questions (F2i)
• PHIL 110: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (F2i, F8)
• PHIL 201: Ancient Philosophy (F1)
• PHIL 203: Modern Philosophy
• PHIL 210: Logic (F6)
• PHIL 216: Philosophy of Law
• PHIL 217: Conflicts of Law and Morality
• PHIL 219: Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
• PHIL 220: Philosophy of Race and Racism (F8, F9)
• PHIL 221: Markets and Morals
• PHIL 222: Ethics (F1)
• PHIL 225: Justice, Equality, and Liberty
• PHIL 228: Ethics in Action (2 credits, F11 eligible with one semester of PHIL229)
• PHIL 229: Ethics Bowl Practicum (2 credits, F11 eligible with two semesters)
• PHIL 230: Environmental Ethics
• PHIL 250: Topics in Philosophy
• PHIL 301: Philosophy, Power, and Politics
• PHIL 303: Issues in Clinical Bioethics
• PHIL 311: Philosophy of Language
• PHIL 312: Philosophy of the Cognitive Sciences
• PHIL 315: Philosophy of Science
• PHIL 318: Metaphysics
• PHIL 319: Epistemology
• PHIL 320: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (F8)
• PHIL 321: Philosophy and Religion
• PHIL 322: Medical Ethics (F1)
• PHIL 326: Sexual Ethics
• PHIL 328: Philosophy of Mind and Consciousness
• PHIL 332: Animal Ethics (F8)
• PHIL 333: Existentialism: God, Death, and Meaning
• PHIL 345: Modern Political Philosophy
• PHIL 347: Children and the State (F8)
• PHIL 355: Feminist Philosophy
• PHIL 360: Philosophy of Death and Dying
• PHIL 369: Philosophy of Humor

See "Courses of Instruction" for a complete list of Philosophy courses and descriptions.
 

To declare a Philosophy major, students should:

1. Email the Philosophy Department Chair about a major advisor
   Students may request a specific advisor, especially if there is a professor with whom they have a good relationship and who knows their work; however, final advising assignments are made by the Chair with attention to balance across departmental advising loads.
2. Complete two copies of the Declaration of Major/Degree Requirements form
   The form is available through Rhodes Express.
3. Write a brief major essay
   Students should write a 150–200 word essay explaining why they want to major in Philosophy. The essay may address the student’s intellectual interests, educational goals, and how the Philosophy major fits into their broader academic/professional aspirations.
4. Meet with the assigned major advisor
   Students should ask their advisor to read and approve the essay. The advisor will also review the student’s plans for the major and sign both copies of the Declaration of Major/Degree Requirements form.
5. Submit the required materials
   Students should submit one signed copy of the Declaration of Major/Degree Requirements form to the Philosophy Department Chair and one signed copy to the Registrar. The final, advisor-approved major essay should be submitted as a Word or PDF document to the Philosophy Department Chair. Electronic copies of all materials, including electronic signatures on the Declaration of Major/Degree Requirements form, are acceptable. 

A total of twenty (20) credits as follows: 

I. Core Requirement (1 course, 4 credits)

• PHIL 200: Critical Reasoning (F6)

II. Upper-Level Requirement (1 course, 4 credits)

• One Philosophy course at the 300-level or above

III. Electives (3 courses. 12 credits)

• Three additional Philosophy courses, with no more than one at the 100-level

• Note: While not required, Introduction to Philosophy (PHIL 105) is recommended for first-year students.

Sample Philosophy Electives Include:

• PHIL 105: Black Mirror and Philosophy (F2i) or The Big Questions (F2i)

• PHIL 110: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (F2i, F8)

• PHIL 201: Ancient Philosophy (F1)

• PHIL 203: Modern Philosophy

• PHIL 210: Logic (F6)

• PHIL 216: Philosophy of Law

• PHIL 217: Conflicts of Law and Morality

• PHIL 219: Foundations of Artificial Intelligence

• PHIL 220: Philosophy of Race and Racism (F8, F9)

• PHIL 221: Markets and Morals

• PHIL 222: Ethics (F1)

• PHIL 225: Justice, Equality, and Liberty

• PHIL 228: Ethics in Action (2 credits, F11 eligible with one semester of PHIL 229)

• PHIL 229: Ethics Bowl Practicum (2 credits, F11 eligible with two semesters)

• PHIL 230: Environmental Ethics

• PHIL 250: Topics in Philosophy

• PHIL 301: Philosophy, Power, and Politics

• PHIL 303: Issues in Clinical Bioethics

• PHIL 311: Philosophy of Language

• PHIL 312: Philosophy of the Cognitive Sciences

• PHIL 315: Philosophy of Science

• PHIL 318: Metaphysics

• PHIL 319: Epistemology

• PHIL 320: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (F8)

• PHIL 321: Philosophy and Religion

• PHIL 322: Medical Ethics (F1)

• PHIL 326: Sexual Ethics

• PHIL 328: Philosophy of Mind and Consciousness

• PHIL 332: Animal Ethics (F8)

• PHIL 333: Existentialism: God, Death, and Meaning

• PHIL 345: Modern Political Philosophy

• PHIL 347: Children and the State (F8)

• PHIL 355: Feminist Philosophy

• PHIL 360: Philosophy of Death and Dying
• PHIL 369: Philosophy of Humor

See "Courses of Instruction" for a complete list of Philosophy courses and descriptions.

The Honors Program in Philosophy offers the opportunity to pursue a sustained, independent research project on a topic of philosophical significance during their senior year. It is intended for majors who wish to engage in more intensive and individualized work than the regular degree program allows, and who demonstrate the academic ability, motivation, and independence required for original philosophical scholarship.

Eligibility and Requirements:

• Philosophy major with a minimum 3.5 GPA (cumulative and in-major)

• Submission of a written proposal to the Honors Committee at the start of the senior year. 

• Enrollment in PHIL 486: Senior Seminar & PHIL 496: Honors Research during the senior year.

• Completion of a written thesis and an oral defense.

Please contact the Philosophy department Chair for more information.