Philosophy
Academic Department Introduction
Philosophers study some of the most fundamental questions that can be asked about the world and our place in it. Do we have free will? Are there objective moral truths? Does God exist? What is the best way to live? What does social justice require? Can we ever really know anything?
Studying philosophy helps us understand the development of human thought on such issues over the centuries and offers insight into how to approach them today. Philosophy teaches the general skills of reasoning and argumentation, including how to interpret and evaluate arguments, develop and justify views on complex questions, and express oneself clearly and persuasively. Taking even one philosophy course can change a person’s perspective on life in significant ways.
Learning goals
Understand central questions in metaphysics, epistemology, and value theory, and develop and defend positions concerning them.
Evaluate important and influential positions within the history of philosophy and articulate the ways they have informed contemporary discussions.
Provide an effective defense of a philosophical position, orally and in writing.
Clarify your sense of who you are and what matters to you, while exploring various forms of value, what can be known, and the ways in which philosophical reflection can enhance other forms of inquiry.
Programs of Study
Philosophy major and minor
Students will think profoundly and creatively about consequential human questions and construct clear and persuasive arguments concerning them.
Course Highlights
Seminar: Terrible Beauties
PHIL304
In this seminar, we will closely examine the relationship between immorality and aesthetics, especially as it arises in the arts. Are morally objectionable artworks made aesthetically worse by their moral defects? Is it morally permissible to enjoy the work of artists who have done terrible things? How should we respond to the perceived immorality we might encounter in the arts, whether we are fans or critics? Cases may include museum art, documentary work, film and television, video games, etc.
-
Agency, Ethics, and Biology
PHIL232
This is a team-taught Babson-Olin-Wellesley course. This course investigates the ethics of biological science, technology, and innovation. Topics include: the costs and benefits of scientific progress, recombinant DNA and DNA sequencing, the ethics of clinical trials, trust relationships between scientists and their communities, and the intersections between science and non-human animals/the environment. We will examine these topics through both biological and philosophical lenses, develop an understanding of core principles of biology in context, and use the concepts of agency, trust, and progress to shape our discussions. Our guiding questions include: What is the relationship between a scientific innovation being technically feasible and morally permissible? What if anything do scientists owe the public? Is a person’s tissue still theirs even if it has been removed from their body? How much modification of our genetic code is morally permissible? Is the suffering and death of non-human animals an acceptable cost of doing scientific research? What are the moral responsibilities of the scientists and engineers who develop and build new technologies? -
In this course we will explore the philosophical underpinnings and ramifications of the social structures which shape our lives. Among the topics we will consider are racism, gender, disability, and incarceration and prisons. For each topic, we will investigate different accounts of what the phenomenon at issue is. Among the thinkers we will engage are Sally Haslanger, Charles Mills, and Robin Dembroff. Questions for discussion include: What are the implications of endorsing one account of an oppressive structure over another? How are oppressive social structures, e.g. ableism, transphobia, etc., mutually reinforcing? Does oppression manifest differently in different contexts? If so, how? When are the oppressed unduly burdened with explaining or combatting their oppression?
Places and spaces
The Virginia Onderdonk Library contains a range of philosophical books and journals. Both the library and the lounge are open every weekday, and have quiet and cozy places to read, study, and enjoy coffee from the department machine.
Research highlights
-
Professor Julie Walsh and Eni Mustafaraj, associate professor of computer science, received a National Science Foundation grant to collaborate with students on a project examining the ethics of technology. Walsh, Mustafaraj, and the students are interviewing Wellesley alums working in tech regarding ethical dilemmas they face in their jobs.
-
Professor Helena de Bres’ book, How to Be Multiple: The Philosophy of Twins, was published by Bloomsbury in 2023.
-
Professor Erich Hatala Matthes’ book, Drawing The Line: What to Do with the Work of Immoral Artists from Museums to the Movies, was published by Oxford University Press in 2022.
-
Professor Mary Kate McGowan’s book Just Words: On Speech and Hidden Harm was published by Oxford University Press in 2019.
Opportunities
-
Philosophy Club
The Philosophy Club hosts evening student-led discussions of philosophical topics, informal teas with professors, viewings of movies that explore philosophical topics, and conversations with philosophy alums.
-
Home Base
In the department’s in-house tutoring program, advanced philosophy majors advise beginning and intermediate students on the skills needed to succeed in philosophy. Three tutors are employed each year to give individual advice and run collective workshops on how to read and write philosophy and participate effectively in class.
Beyond Wellesley
Beyond Wellesley
A background in philosophy is valued within many graduate programs, including law school and medical school, and in many diverse careers. Many of our graduates work in the legal profession. Others earn graduate degrees, teach, or work in government or nonprofit sectors. Recent employers include the U.S. Department of Justice, the New York County District Attorney’s office, and the Children’s Defense Fund.
Recent Employers
Department of Philosophy
106 Central Street
Wellesley, MA 02481