Why Study Philosophy?
Studying philosophy is exciting and challenging. It helps equip the student with tools necessary for success in any job, and for leading a thoughtful life. It confronts the student with deep and vexing questions: What can I know? What may I hope? What ought I to do? Answering these questions, or trying to answer them, develops analytical skills, and a healthy respect for both the value and the difficulty of thinking clearly.
This level of preparation reveals itself in high scores on graduate admission tests:
- On the LSAT (Law School Aptitude Test), philosophy majors rank at or near the top among all majors (philosophy majors significantly out-perform political science majors, for example). More on a Pre-Law program in philosophy is available on our Degree Requirements page.
- On the GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test), philosophy majors do much better than any of the various business majors.
- On the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), philosophy majors rank highest on the verbal section, among the highest on the quantitative section, and best overall.
Why Study Philosophy at Auburn?
The philosophy major at Auburn is small enough to ensure that students receive individual attention both inside and outside the classroom. The Auburn Philosophical Society as well as the Philosophy Club provide students with frequent opportunities for both formal and informal interaction with the faculty and with one another. The faculty is very active in research, ranking among the best departments in the University. But this has not prevented the faculty from collecting numerous teaching awards: for example,
- Drs. Jolley, Penaskovic, and Watkins each have been named “Teacher of the Year” in the Humanities;
- Dr. Jolley has been named Alumni Professor;
- Dr. Davis is an inductee into the Liberal Arts Academy of Teaching and Outstanding Teachers;
- Dr. Cooke is the winner of an Instructional Excellence Award;
- and Dr. Long has been named Panhellenic Council Outstanding Professor.
- The program was deemed one of the best undergraduate programs in the country by an external review committee that reviewed the department in 2008.
- Dr. Watkins and Dr. Shelley are the winners of the CLA Teaching Award in Humanities.
Recently, our department was the subject of an article in the New York Times Magazin: "The Thinker"
To see what some of our majors have wrriten about their time here, check the following links:
Testimonial Scott Looney philosophy testimonial
Micah Cobb Philosophy Testimonial
Questions about this page
Last updated January 17, 2007