Campuses:
Twin Cities campus
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
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Twin Cities Campus
Philosophy MinorPhilosophy Department
College of Liberal Arts
If you have ever pondered, "Why am I here?" or "What is the meaning of life?" then you have already thought about philosophy. Philosophy poses questions about every human endeavor and examines our basic assumptions about everything we think we know. It takes on challenging issues that sometimes defy resolution and trains the brain to think in a rigorous and analytic way about all the possible answers and what's at stake. Philosophy is not just a subject matter but a way of thinking.
In your philosophy courses, you will learn about the way that people throughout history have engaged in this kind of thinking with questions such as "Can I really trust my senses to tell me about reality?", "Is anything really morally right or wrong or is it all just relative?", "Do scientific theories tell us the truth about the world or are they tools that are useful for certain purposes?" and "Are some societies more just than others?". You will discover that thinking about these questions with an open mind is deeply satisfying. Philosophical thinking also contributes to a worthwhile life; in the words of Socrates "the unexamined life is not worth living".
Of course, life isn't all about having fun thinking. Philosophy is also much more practical than you might think! Because philosophy is so far-reaching, the method it uses for study enhances the study of other fields such as art, math, science, language, and law with tremendous success. It is a great complement to other majors as a second major or a minor. You can find details about good combinations on our website. Also, studying philosophy is a fantastic way to hone your critical thinking and analytic writing skills. You'll learn two types of critical thinking: First, a method for rigorous analysis of arguments. Second, a habit of asking penetrating questions about the hidden assumptions of any position, ideology, or practice. You will develop your capacities to conceive of alternative assumptions, evaluate which ones are best and determine where they lead. You'll learn to write papers that clearly demonstrate these skills.
The philosophy minor is unstructured, but we recommend giving your minor program your own structure one that will enrich your major or allow you to explore a side interest in a concentrated way. For more information, visit: http://www.philosophy.umn.edu/
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Minor Requirements
Students may earn a B.A. or a minor in philosophy, but not both.
Electives
Take 14 or more credit(s) from the following:
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PHIL 3001W - General History of Western Philosophy: Ancient Period
[AH, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3005W - General History of Western Philosophy: Modern Period
[AH, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3231 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3234 - Knowledge and Society
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3301 - Environmental Ethics
[ENV]
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3304 - Law and Morality
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3305 - Medical Ethics
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3311W - Introduction to Ethical Theory
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3601W - Scientific Thought
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3600 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3607 - Philosophy of Psychology
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4055 - Kant
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4101 - Metaphysics
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4105W - Epistemology
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4231 - Philosophy of Language
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4311W - History of Moral Theories
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4320 - Intensive Study of a Historical Moral Theory
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4326 - Lives Worth Living: Questions of Self, Vocation, and Community
[CIV, AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4331 - Contemporary Moral Theories
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4414 - Political Philosophy
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4607 - Philosophy of the Biological Sciences
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4615 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5201 - Symbolic Logic I
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5202 - Symbolic Logic II
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5211 - Modal Logic
(4.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5222 - Philosophy of Mathematics
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5415 - Philosophy of Law
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5601 - History of the Philosophy of Science
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5602 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5603 - Scientific Inquiry
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 5606 - Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 3302W - Moral Problems of Contemporary Society
[CIV, WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
PHIL 3322W - Moral Problems of Contemporary Society
[CIV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PHIL 4085 - Wittgenstein
(3.0 cr)
or
PHIL 5085 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
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