It’s a question with a range of answers…
Professional philosophers investigate the natural world, the logical structure of language, the nature of mathematical objects, personal identity, morality, the mind, and much more. A common thread running through the limitless scope of philosophical inquiry is a commitment to uncovering and analyzing the foundational concepts, assumptions, and questions that define particular areas of inquiry.
Another hallmark of philosophy is the intentional coupling of exacting methodology with an imaginative openness to logical possibility.
We view philosophy as a social activity embodied in a variety of imaginative language games. The games involve us in sharing and evaluating claims, reasons, hypotheses and thought experiments, with the goal of identifying and evaluating the assumptions and biases that inform our decision-making and experience. Ultimately, the games serve a simple purpose: To self-consciously examine reality and our shared experience of it.
This game-oriented view of philosophy guides all of our program development, across the diversity of topics and issues that you seek to address!
“I loved this...I've decided I want to pursue a minor in philosophy…the material was very well-organized and…each section [allowed] us to think critically…Group discussions were a great tool as well. Dr. Mike encouraged…participation and debate, which was a great plus.”
— Former Student, The Ohio State University