Students in Philosophy study the concept of human nature,
principles of morality, the theories of knowledge, evidence and
rationality, and concepts related to the Vincentian mission.
Graduates will be able to substantiate claims with well-structured
arguments, recognize various counter-claims and assess their
plausibility, and respond to alternative positions through critical
analysis of the principles and implications of differing
viewpoints.
The program will prepare graduates to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the
concept of human nature.
- Identify the distinguishing characteristics of human persons
and contrast them with those of the higher animals, machines (e.g.
computers, and supernatural beings.
- Articulate and assess theories of the mind-body relationship
(materialism, dualism, hylomorphism, functionalism).
- Articulate arguments for and against the possibility of
personal immortality.
Demonstrate an understanding of the
principles of morality, and their practical application.
- Articulate the major ethical perspectives, such as natural law
ethics, virtue ethics, deontological ethics, ethical egoism, and
utilitarianism.
- Evaluate the major implications of the ethical theories listed
above, e.g., the implications of the utilitarian principle that the
end justifies the means, the natural law principle of double
effect, and the deontological principle of the categorical
imperative.
- Apply the major ethical theories to evaluate universal (e.g.
lying), historical (e.g. slavery) and contemporary (e.g. embryonic
stem cell research) issues.
- Formulate and evaluate arguments for the objectivity of
morality
- Describe the relationship between theism and objective
morality.
Demonstrate an understanding of theories of Knowledge, Evidence,
and Rationality.
- Articulate the basic epistemological theories and describe
their fundamental areas of disagreement.
- Explain, in some detail, the roles of the senses and the
intellect in the acquisition of knowledge.
- Formulate and evaluate the argument of epistemological
skepticism.
- Articulate and evaluate the basic outlines of arguments for the
existence of God, namely, the ontological, cosmological,
teleological, and moral.
- Discuss the philosophical implications of modern science,
particularly with reference to issues such as evolutionary biology,
intelligent design, and the anthropic principle
Demonstrate an understanding of Logic and
Critical Thinking.
- Articulate the principles, laws and assumptions of formal logic
(both syllogistic logic and the modern logic of propositions).
- Define and detect the major types of informal fallacies.
- Explain the relationship between truth, validity and
soundness.
- Identify the premises and conclusions of arguments and evaluate
their validity and soundness.
- Describe the nature of Philosophy as an intellectual discipline
and distinguish it from the sciences (physical, biological and
social) and theology.
Conduct independent scholarly
research.
- Gather, organize, and present information in the modern
academic and intellectual context using library resources.
- Access relevant information on the Internet, as well as other
contemporary sources and perspectives that contribute to the
marketplace of ideas.
- Write essays and research papers that compare, contrast and/or
critique philosophical theories.
- Use empirical evidence and logical argumentation in the
presentation of philosophical theories.
Embody the Vincentian mission.
- Articulate a well-formed concept of the dignity of the human
person.
- Articulate a just war theory and apply that theory to
contemporary conflicts.
- Articulate theories of justice and apply them to the question
of poverty.
Undergraduate Admission
Contacts
Queens
Office of Admission
St. John’s University
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
1 (888) 9STJOHNS
admissions@stjohns.edu
Staten Island
Office of Admission
St. John’s University
300 Howard Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10301
(718) 390-4500
siadmhelp@stjohns.edu