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Philosophy

B.A., Minor

What should we believe about truth, knowledge, reality and moral goodness? What reasons, if any, can support beliefs about these matters? To what extent can logic help us answer these questions? What is the nature of logic? The Philosophy program is for students who want to think seriously about and to discuss these issues. They also want to learn what some of the greatest thinkers throughout history have thought about these matters. Philosophy majors and minors graduate with expanded knowledge of the nature of these questions and of the range of possible answers to them. They also gain sharpened, analytical, thinking, speaking and writing skills.  

Tracks

Major in Philosophy

Philosophy program students are trained in the techniques of logic and philosophical reasoning, criticism, and analytical writing. They become fluent in a variety of important topics in philosophy. Most classes are taught as seminars or group tutorials to encourage discussion.

Minor in Philosophy

Minors in Philosophy undergo a program of core Philosophy courses, including choices of courses in Logic, Ethics and the History of Philosophy. The Minor in Philosophy requires only five courses plus the Senior Seminar, in which Minors help review the Majors’ Senior Theses.

Minor in Philosophy with a Concentration in Ethics

This minor focuses more on morality and ethics in specific life scenarios. Students learn contemporary moral issues and focus on social and business settings.

Honors Thesis

The Hollins philosophy program offers students the opportunity to graduate with departmental honors in philosophy. In order to do this, students must write an honors thesis, present some portion of that thesis during the Senior Seminar, and defend the thesis before a committee.

Sophia, The Philosophy Club at Hollins

Sophia - Philosophy club

‘Sophia’ means wisdom in Greek, and Sophia, the Hollins Philosophy Club creates events which further our pursuit of wisdom.

It is open not only to Hollins philosophy majors and minors, and to students in philosophy classes at Hollins, but to anyone at Hollins who is interested in philosophy. Activities include welcoming philosophy clubs from other schools to watch philosophy-related films and shows and to discuss the philosophical issues which they raise.

For instance, Sophia has hosted the Roanoke College Philosophy Club to watch an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series which raised the issue of the possibility of time travel to the past.

Films with philosophical themes have been screened, for instance “Being in the World,” which delves into Heidegger’s phenomenology by exploring ways in which our understanding exceeds analysis and our doings exceed technology.

There has been a series of open “Conversations With A Philosopher,” on such topics as freedom of speech, and the second amendment to the Constitution concerning the right to bear arms. These conversations were open to the entire Hollins community and took place in our Babcock Auditorium.

“Philosophy, rightly defined, is simply the love of wisdom.”

“In an age of M.B.A.s and computer scientists, more than 4,000 American college students graduate each year with a bachelor’s degree in the ancient discipline. Sometimes their parents and friends wonder what will happen to them. Yet philosophy majors appear to do remarkably well. Their professional success may stem from the fact that philosophy students seem more likely than those with other degrees to attend graduate or professional school.”