UC San Diego
Department of Philosophy
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Undergrad Program

Philosophy studies enduring issues about ourselves and our place in the world, including issues about our knowledge of nature, the immortality of the soul and the rationality of religious belief, mind and action, freedom of the will and responsibility, moral value, political legitimacy, rights and liberty. The history of philosophy, conceived as the study of the texts and ideas of influential philosophers (e.g. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Locke, Hume, Leibniz, Kant, and Hegel), is also part of philosophy. But philosophy does not look only to the past. It also studies issues that emerge from recent scientific, technological and cultural developments. Moreover, philosophy is as much about method as subject matter. Philosophers develop multi-purpose analytical skills that allow them to interpret complex texts and to construct and assess arguments in a clear and rigorous fashion. Whether you are interested in pursuing a major or minor in philosophy, or just enrolling in a single course, the Philosophy Department has something for you. Its courses are staffed by excellent teachers who are committed to offering a stimulating learning experience for all students. -Donald Rutherford, Department Chair

Philosophy Courses from UCSD Catalog

Learning Objectives

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Pages of Interest:

Declare a Philosophy Major

Please use the online major/minor tool to declare a philosophy major; consult University requirements.