Philosophy

Philosophy is concerned with questions that are difficult to answer, yet fundamentally important. Nearly all of us want our actions to be good, our beliefs to be reasonable and our government to be just, but how do we know what is good, reasonable and just?

As a Philosophy student, you will gain an increased awareness of these issues, which pervade human life and helps establish a life-long attitude of reflection. We believe that each person’s life can be enhanced and enriched by engaging in philosophical reflection.

Indeed, the proper aim of philosophy is the development of both mind and character through a reasoned pursuit of truth and understanding of the world.

Philosophy is part of the Department of Humanities at St. Cloud State University, along with English, History, and Languages and Cultures. The Department brings together disciplines devoted to exploring meaning, value, and human understanding.

In Philosophy, we examine fundamental questions about existence, ethics, and knowledge. Through reflection and reason, we cultivate habits of critical inquiry and moral awareness, which are central to the humanities’ mission of exploring what it means to be human.