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Contact Information
(541) 346-5547
(541) 346-5544 fax

http://www.uoregon.edu/~uophil/

Undergraduate degrees: B.A., B.S.
Undergraduate minor

Philosophy asks fundamental questions about the human experience. It examines the nature of knowledge, the self, and the mind, and concerns about human meaning and moral values.

Deep thoughts

Joshua Morgan decided to major in philosophy during his freshman year, when he engaged in deep philosophical discussions with other students in the dorm. “The philosophers were asking, ‘What do we have to do with our time here on earth?’ and that was the sort of question I’d ask my friends at 3 a.m.,” he says. “I thought, ‘As long as I’m sitting around talking and thinking about these things, I might as well find out what the masters thought about them.’”

Joshua was impressed with the variety of courses offered in the Department of Philosophy. Basically, he says, the department offers courses on just about any topic philosophically minded students want to tackle.

Undergraduate Director Scott Pratt believes this diversity of thought is a real strength of the UO’s program. “The philosophy department is unique in that it takes a pluralistic approach,” he says. “Students in our department become familiar with a range of philosophical traditions.” While most departments focus on one tradition or way of doing philosophy, the UO offers students the chance to work within various traditions such as feminist or American philosophy.

There’s ample variety within each tradition too. Students can focus on whatever they want to within the department, according to senior Andrea Valinoti. “I took as many political philosophy classes as I could; that was what I enjoyed most,” she explains. “But there’s also Native American philosophy, which Scott Pratt specializes in, and then there’s Kant, Hegel, and so on. I’ve learned more than I could have ever imagined in the department. It’s a hard major, but it’s really rewarding.”

Joshua says he enjoys the unpredictability of in-class discussions. “Every once in a while you find yourself talking about a strange and silly topic that developed from an interesting student question,” he says. “Little pieces of everyday life drift into the classroom.”

Courses help students think about big questions, says Pratt, and to see that the ways in which we answer the big questions can make a daily difference. “Our department is committed to the value of philosophy as a way of thinking that has implications for one’s everyday life,” he adds.