Philosophy

Students who are interested in examining questions regarding the ultimate nature of reality and our knowledge of it, or in questioning society's basic assumptions and in analyzing the moral, political, aesthetic and religious questions lying at the heart of our culture in an articulate manner will find this a stimulating and challenging course. In their first two years at Trinity, Dual BA students will study foundation courses in the history of philosophy, as well as engage with certain fundamental philosophical problems such as the debates about free will, the nature of morality, the existence of God, logic, and the scope and limits of human knowledge.

In their third and fourth years at Columbia, students will join the Department of Philosophy to complete their major and follow the Core Curriculum. Philosophy majors at Columbia are given a foundation in logic and philosophical methodology, and are asked to confront fundamental questions in the main areas of philosophy: epistemology and metaphysics, ethics and political philosophy, the philosophy of mind and language, and the history of philosophy. The department requires that all majors take at least one seminar (PHIL UN3912), designed to allow students to focus on particular philosophical issues or texts in greater depth. Outstanding seniors may also pursue their own philosophical project in a senior thesis.

Over and above the courses required of all majors, there is room for considerable flexibility. Through an appropriate choice of electives from among the department's course offerings (and from related courses in other departments), there are special opportunities for focusing more intensively on one or two subfields of philosophy: for example, logic and the philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of science, ethics and political philosophy, or the history of philosophy.

As part of the Trinity degree, students participate in a Philosophical conference by attending, organizing or presenting their undergraduate research during their third year of studies. In the final year, Trinity requires a research project as part of the 30 ECTS during years three and four that allows students to explore in-depth an area of interest.