When Socrates exclaimed to his incredulous accusers, “I know you won't believe me, but I truly believe the highest human excellence is to question oneself and others,” he captured the spirit of all philosophical effort. Although philosophy has undergone profound changes since his time, it still seeks to come to terms with the questions and issues provoked by every phase of life, and it produces arguments and accounts bearing on every subject worthy of disciplined reflection.

Contact Information
Arts and Letters Office: (812) 941-2342
Website: https://www.ius.edu/philosophy/

Academics

Minors

• Philosophy Minor
• Religious Studies Minor

Program Information

Student Learning Goals

1: Through the study of Philosophy at IUS, students should be able to comprehend, interpret and evaluate the different philosophical positions to which they are exposed. Students should be able to understand and restate accurately positions or arguments, as well as make reasoned judgments and present cogent arguments to support their judgments.

2: Students should improve their skills in making responsible, rational judgments on issues of moral rightness and wrongness as well as on matters of moral character. Students should be able to make use of classical ethical theories in formulating these judgments.

3: Students should develop the ability to present comprehensive interpretations and arguments clearly, accurately, and without prejudice in both written and oral forms.

4: Students should increase their ability to reflect upon their own views and consider whether other positions are stronger. They should be able to make modifications when their own careful thinking indicates that this is appropriate. Such openness requires that students appreciate the variety of philosophical positions that have been developed both across different periods in Philosophy as well as within a given period. Given the impact that cognate fields such as social and political theory, science, and religion have had on the development of philosophical ideas, students should also reflect on relevant ideas from these fields as well.

5: Students should have an awareness and understanding of issues and positions that have been prominent in the philosophical tradition. Students should have a strong grounding in the major philosophies of the ancient and modern periods of Western Philosophy, as well as exposure to non-Western schools of thought.