Does God exist, and if so, what is God like?? Are there objective moral principles binding on all persons? How can humans attain true happiness? What do the demands of justice require of me?? To what extent, if any, are humans free? When, if ever, is it morally permissible to take a human life?
Philosophy?s questions are often life-orienting questions, the answers to which shape our self-understanding, and sometimes direct our life?s plans and purposes, making them important questions to address. These questions are pursued in the distinctive sub-fields of philosophy
If you are trying to choose between the regular and integrated philosophy major, you already have a deep interest in philosophy. But your interests may also range beyond philosophy, to psychology, or theology, communications, or some other academic discipline, and you?re reluctant to drop either major area of interest. If so, the integrated philosophy major may be ideal for you. The integrated major is designed to encourage philosophical study in conjunction with some other area of academic concentration.
Students take 24 designated hours in philosophy and 16 designated hours in some companion discipline. Students opting for the integrative philosophy major also enjoy taking ?bridge courses? that bring philosophy into fruitful conversation with the companion discipline. For example, students pursuing an integrated major with, say, English Literature, could take ENGL 434 (Modern Literary Theory) in addition to PHIL 447, Philosophical Hermeneutics, thereby building ?a bridge? between the disciplines. Many students elect to take more than 16 hours in the companion discipline?an economical route to a double major.