About Philosophy:
What makes an action right or wrong? What does a just society look like? Can animals or artificial intelligence reason? What does it mean to think clearly?
These are the kinds of questions which philosophy engages. These questions don't stay abstract—they run through our lives and through the practices of other disciplines. Philosophy teaches you how to "think about thinking," and in doing so, gain a life-long tool for navigating ideas, people, and the built and natural world.
We are a welcoming community committed to both thought and impact. Our teaching and research cultivate a vibrant and inclusive laboratory for meaningful discourse—a department focused on vital issues and perspectives. We're interested in fostering in students the critical thinking, relevant curiosity, and capacity for intellectual exploration that empowers them to create a more just, equitable, and thoughtful society.
Some of the issues we engage include the following:
- the nature and extent of knowledge and truth: How is truth different from belief or opinion? What does it mean to "prove" something? Is knowledge based upon sensory experience, abstract rules, or something else? Are there limits to what can be known?
- the nature of reality: Is there an external world? What is the relationship between physical existence and mental perception? Does God exist?
- the foundations and implications of other disciplines: What is a scientific explanation? What knowledge of the world does science provide? Do scientific theories such as evolutionary theory, or quantum mechanics, compel us to modify our understanding of reality?
- human nature: Do humans truly act freely? Where does our moral compass come from? How do we construct justice? Is that justice political in formation?
Philosophy's vitality comes not from mastering a set of facts but from training students to read critically, argue rigorously, question hidden assumptions, and express their position with force and precision. These are leadership skills that do not become obsolete—intellectual competencies that serve students for life. An undergraduate degree in philosophy is academically rigorous. It is excellent preparation for law and medicine, software development, as well as a spectrum of entry-level positions in business, public service and more. Read more about the advantages of studying philosophy.
Why do our faculty love philosophy? Short takes from some of our people!
Shelby on what happens 10 years after you take philosophy: https://youtube.com/shorts/p8K0G9Fynwc
Metcalf on how student challenge their own thinking: https://youtube.com/shorts/BV9i27AGcR4
Tanzer on why studying ethical principles can change not just how we think but how we act, ethically. https://youtu.be/Ww8nXZGTVmI
More faculty videos: https://clas.ucdenver.edu/philosophy/faculty-videos