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Philosophy

What is consciousness? Are all actions determined by outside causes? Where do morals come from? What can we know for certain? Philosophy at Huron gives you numerous chances to think hard about these and other questions that have the potential to fundamentally change the way you view and interact with the world.

In the company of expert scholars and fellow students who, like you, aren’t satisfied with accepting everything at face value, you’ll discover what the great thinkers of the past and present have said, and develop your own reasoned ideas in response.

PHILOSOPHY BROCHURE

Alumni Stories

The power to think, wield logic, reason and critical thought to better understand circumstances and articulate complex ideas continues to serve our alumni well. Graduates of Huron’s Philosophy program flourish in career fields you may never expect. Learn why these successful alumni chose to pursue Philosophy and how it has helped them distinguish themselves as influential Leaders with Heart.

  • Huron gave me competence academically and socially. My education taught me how to communicate with people from all walks of life, including those in positions of authority.
    Taylor Harris
    From Huron to Cambridge
    Read more

Program Options

No matter which level of engagement you choose to pursue within the Philosophy program, you will have the chance to develop and build upon your capacity to think outside-the-box (or to blow the box off its hinge altogether). Learning to analyze arguments and think for yourself is exciting. It is also a fundamental skill for Leaders with Heart who must know how to think critically, ask questions and relentlessly pursue wise and just answers.

Find your home within Huron’s Philosophy program and prepare to see the world, its opportunities and challenges through a brand new lens.

HONORS SPECIALIZATION
SPECIALIZATION
MAJOR
MINOR
Philosophy

Learn more about the following programs offered in Philosophy that will lead students on an exploration of philosophical figures and ideologies – from introductory courses through to a refined understanding of the most influential concepts surrounding human nature, behaviour, government, leadership and much more.

Honors Specialization
Specialization
Major
Minor
Combined Honors Specialization Faculty of Arts and Social Science/HBA

Philosophy, Reasoning, and Ethics

Learn more about the following programs offered in Philosophy, Reasoning, and Ethics to discover why your pursuit of the answers to moral and logical questions can support an enriching educational experience that will help you develop into a thoughtful Leader with Heart.

From learning how to shift your perspective, influence others and re-imagine problems to generate strategic solutions, courses in Philosophy, Reasoning, and Ethics will dramatically enhance your capacity for problem-solving, empowering you to affect positive change in your personal and professional pursuits.

Honors Specialization

Combined Honors Specialization Faculty of Arts and Social Science/HBA

Specialization

Philosophy in Commerce

Human wealth, the activity of buying and selling property and the distribution of power and resources significantly affects our day-to-day lives – both at the level of the individual, as well as our societies more broadly. Study how major philosophical minds define and analyze philosophical questions relevant to commerce, globalization, economics and the ethical practices surrounding these human activities and motivations.

Learn more about the Philosophy in Commerce major.

Religious Studies and Philosophy

Explore complex metaphysical questions about how humans situate themselves within particular natural, historical, social and religious structures. Read up some of the recognizable philosophers who attempt to grapple with some of the biggest questions occupying human thought, including the existence of God, the composition of the soul and the validity of religious experience.

Learn more about the Religious Studies and Philosophy minor.

Ethics

Courses in ethics are essential for students interested in further developing their capacity for Leadership with Heart. In our increasingly complex world, it is so important to establish a solid ethical foundation and also to be able to recognize when others actions are reflective of their oppositional, deficient or exceptional ethics.

Build upon the toolset that allows you to make sound value judgements and critically analyze circumstances to position yourself, as effectively as possible, to make decisions that will breed as much good as the real and perceived constraints of the situation will allow for.

Learn more about the Ethics minor.

Professors

Students can expect to be taught by instructors with extensive philosophical training, who have been selected for their scholarship and teaching abilities. In addition to their familiarity with the main stream of contemporary English language philosophy, individual faculty members have other areas of specialized interest and knowledge. They offer opportunities to explore intellectual currents from various times and places, ranging from ancient Greek thought to Jewish, East Asian and recent Continental traditions.

  • An education that aims to develop Leaders with Heart cannot attempt to teach students what to think, but rather, should empower them how to think, so they are able to fortify their individual moral, ethical and social ideologies to help navigate our very complex political, economic and cultural systems.
    Steve Bland, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Philosophy
    Read more
  • Every field of learning looks toward what is universal and fundamental. Philosophy can help by clarifying central terms like happiness, justice, right or wrong and true or false. Our students will learn about rational belief revision, about the criteria for judging theories and the nature of good and bad, through freewheeling philosophical debate about life’s big questions. We will try to conserve what’s most valuable from the past while following the argument where it leads.
    Glen Koehn, PHD
    Associate Professor, Chair of the Philosophy Department
    Read more
  • What I hope to do is to get students to see how ideas – even complicated ones – have a bearing on the practical concerns that we face every day of our lives.
    David Conter, PhD
    Associate Professor, Philosophy
    Read more

Philosophy Department

Tenure-stream

Program sessional and per course instructors  

Professors Emeritis

Philosophy Courses

Students learn to analyze texts critically, to reason, produce logical arguments, and communicate their ideas in an effective and persuasive manner. Courses range from logic to ethics to philosophy of law and philosophy of art.

2020-2021 Courses

1000 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 1230A – Reasoning and Critical Thinking Marsh View course outline
PHI 1230B – Reasoning and Critical Thinking Marsh 550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 1250F – Right and Wrong Conter 550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 1250G – Right and Wrong Lamoureux View course outline
PHI 1350F – Reality and What We Can Know of It Doyle View course outline
PHI 1350G – Reality and What We Can Know of It Doyle View course outline
PHI 1370B – Form, Thought, Communication Conter View course outline

2000 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 2074F – Business Ethics Robb View course outline
PHI 2074G – Business Ethics Ponesse View course outline
PHI 2076G – Sex, Love and Friendship Epp View course outline
PHI 2200F – Ancient Philosophy Koehn View course outline
PHI 2202F – Early Modern Philosophy Marsh View course outline
PHI 2250 – Introduction to Logic Koehn View course outline
PHI 2253A – Introduction to Decision Analysis Koehn View course outline
PHI 2264G – Philosophy of Money Conter View course outline
PHI 2500F – Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge Marsh View course outline
PHI 2630F – Feminist Philosophy Epp View course outline
PHI 2700F – Introduction to Ethics and Value Theory Marsh View course outline
PHI 2700G – Introduction to Ethics and Value Theory Marsh 550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 2760G – Civil Disobedience and Social Protest D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 2801F – Contemporary Political Philosophy Robb View course outline
PHI 2821F – Philosophy of Law Conter View course outline
PHI 2822G – Topics in Philosophy of Law Lamoureux View course outline

3000-4999 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 3003G – Plato Ponesse View course outline
PHI 3501G – Epistemology Bland View course outline
PHI 3510G – Truth and Paradox Koehn View course outline
PHI 3720G – Normative Ethics Epp View course outline
PHI 3810G – Justice Robb View course outline
PHI 3840F – Case Studies in Business Ethics Lamoureux View course outline
PHI 3850G – Climate Justice D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 3880F – Social Construction of Institutions Epp View course outline
PHI 3910G – Aesthetics Conter View course outline
PHI 4830G – Contemporary Issues in the Philosophy of Property Conter View course outline
PHI 4851F – Philosophy of Law Conter View course outline
PHI 4996F – Advanced Topics in Philosophy TBA View course outline
2019-2020 Courses

1000 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 1230A – Reasoning and Critical Thinking Bland / Marsh 550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 1230B – Reasoning and Critical Thinking Bland View course outline
PHI 1250F – Right and Wrong Conter View course outline
PHI 1250G – Right and Wrong Lamoureux View course outline
PHI 1350G – Reality and What We Can Know of It Doyle View course outline
PHI 1370B – Form, Thought, Communication Conter View course outline

2000 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 2074F – Business Ethics Ponesse View course outline
PHI 2074G – Business Ethics Ponesse View course outline
PHI 2076G – Sex, Love and Friendship Ponesse View course outline
PHI 2111F – Asian Philosophy D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 2200F – Ancient Philosophy MacDonald View course outline
PHI 2202F – Early Modern Philosophy Bland View course outline
PHI 2250 – Introduction to Logic Koehn View course outline
PHI 2253A – Introduction to Decision Analysis Marsh View course outline
PHI 2263G – Philosophy of Risk Lamoureux View course outline
PHI 2264G – Philosophy of Money Conter View course outline
PHI 2500F – Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge Bland View course outline
PHI 2555G – Phenom & Existential Philosophy D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 2700F – Introduction to Ethics and Value Theory D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 2700G – Introduction to Ethics and Value Theory Marsh View course outline
PHI 2800F – History of Political Philosophy Robb View course outline
PHI 2812F – Cultures, Values & Human Rights Ponesse View course outline
PHI 2813F – Nationalism & Political Morality Conter View course outline
PHI 2822F – Topics in Philosophy of Law Conter View course outline
PHI 2996G – Stoics, Skeptics and Epicureans Koehn View course outline

3000-4999 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 3006G – Aristotle Ponesse View course outline
PHI 3220G – Bias, Rationality & Objectivity Bland View course outline
PHI 3645F – Group Agency Conter View course outline
PHI 3810G – Justice Robb View course outline
PHI 3820G – Globalization and Theories of Justice D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 3840F – Case Studies in Business Ethics Lamoureux View course outline
PHI 4820G – Theories of Property Conter View course outline
2018-2019 Courses

1000 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 1230A – Reasoning and Critical Thinking Bland View course outline
PHI 1230B – Reasoning and Critical Thinking Marsh View course outline
PHI 1250F – Right and Wrong Conter View course outline
PHI 1250G – Right and Wrong Lamoureux View course outline
PHI 1350G – Reality and What We Can Know of It Doyle View course outline
PHI 1370B – Form, Thought, Communication Conter View course outline

2000 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 2074F – Business Ethics Ponesse View course outline
PHI 2076G – Sex, Love and Friendship Epp View course outline
PHI 2200F – Ancient Philosophy Ponesse View course outline
PHI 2202F – Early Modern Philosophy Bland View course outline
PHI 2250 – Introduction to Logic Koehn View course outline
PHI 2253A – Introduction to Decision Analysis Koehn View course outline
PHI 2263G – Philosophy of Risk Bland View course outline
PHI 2400F – Philosophy of Mind Marsh View course outline
PHI 2500F – Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge Bland View course outline
PHI 2665G – Introduction to Jewish Philosophy Conter View course outline
PHI 2700F – Introduction to Ethics and Value Theory D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 2760G – Civil Disobedience D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 2801G – Contemporary Political Philosophy  D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 2812G – Cultures, Values & Human Rights Conter View course outline
PHI 2821F – Philosophy of Law Conter View course outline
PHI 2822G – Topics in Philosophy of Law Lamoureaux View course outline

3000-4999 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 3003G – Plato Ponesse View course outline
PHI 3007G – Topics in Ancient Philosophy MacDonald View course outline
PHI 3040G – Origins of Analytic Philosophy Doyle View course outline
PHI 3501G – Epistemology Bland View course outline
PHI 3710G – Metaethics Koehn View course outline
PHI 3810G – Justice Robb View course outline
PHI 3820F – Globalization and Theories of Justice D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 3840F – Case Studies in Business Ethics Lamoureux View course outline
PHI 3880F – Social Ontology (Social Construction of Institutions Epp View course outline
PHI 4851G – Philosophy of Law: Free Speech on Campus Conter View course outline
2017-2018 Courses

1000 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 1230A – Reasoning and Critical Thinking Bland View course outline
PHI 1250F – Right and Wrong Conter View course outline
PHI 1250G – Right and Wrong D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 1350G – Reality and What We Know of It Doyle View course outline
PHI 1370B – Form, Thought, Communication Conter View course outline

2000 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 2074F – Business Ethics Ponesse View course outline
PHI 2076G – Philosophy of Sex, Love and Friendship Epp View course outline
PHI 2200F – Ancient Philosophy Ponesse View course outline
PHI 2202G – Early Modern Philosophy Bland View course outline
PHI 2250 – Introduction to Logic Koehn View course outline
PHI 2253A – Introduction to Decision Analysis Koehn View course outline
PHI 2263B – Philosophy of Risk Lamoureux View course outline
PHI 2500F – Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge Bland View course outline
PHI 2700F – Introduction to Ethics and Value Theory D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 2800F – The History of Political Philosophy Epp View course outline
PHI 2820G – Philosophy of War and Peace Conter View course outline
PHI 2822F – Topics in Philosophy of Law Conter View course outline
PHI 2991B – Special Topics: Fiction, Existence, Representation Koehn View course outline

3000 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 3006G – Aristotle Ponesse View course outline
PHI 3048F – From Hegel to Marx D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 3050G – Recent Continental Philosophy D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 3250F– Experimental Philosophy Bland View course outline
PHI 3601F – Metaphysics Marsh View course outline
PHI 3645F – Group Agency Conter View course outline
PHI 3720G – Normative Ethics D’Arcy View course outline
PHI 3810G – Justice Robb View course outline

4000 Level Courses

Course Instructor Course Outline
PHI 4830G – Contemporary Issues in the Philosophy of Property Conter View course outline
PHI 4992G – Problems in Philosophy: Realtivism Bland View course outline

 

Careers - Philosophy

Learning to analyze arguments and think for yourself is exciting. It is also a fundamental skill for Leaders with Heart who must know how to think critically, ask questions and relentlessly pursue wise and just answers. It’s no accident many leaders in law, business and government have a background in philosophy. Our grads have gone on to careers and studies in things such as:

Where will a degree in Philosophy take you?
  • Law
  • Education
  • Public Relations
  • Policy
  • Foreign service
  • Medicine
  • Communications
  • Investment counselling
  • Market research
  • Journalism
  • Politics
  • Biomedical ethics
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