The Philosophy Minor at Pratt introduces classical problems of philosophy and brings them into contemporary contexts. It challenges traditional wisdom with new arguments and considers better models for the future, whilst also studying major thinkers of the past whose influence continues to shape modern thought. Central to the Minor are questions about ethics and politics (How can we live a good life? What is justice? What is power?), knowledge (How are our beliefs justified? Do we know anything at all? How do we perceive the world around us?), and art (What is art? What is beauty? How do we form judgements of taste?). Students shape their own program to satisfy their intellectual curiosity by selecting topics from a generous range of courses such as aesthetics, ethics and social issues, environmental philosophy, existentialism, feminism and gender theory, modern political thought, metaphysics, logic, and others.
HOW TO MINOR IN PHILOSOPHY
The Philosophy Minor can be taken in conjunction with any Major. Students must select one course (3 credits) from the ‘Philosophy Core’ (PHIL-200 Foundations in Philosophy; PHIL-208 History of Philosophy: Ancient to Medieval; PHIL-209 History of Modern Philosophy). The remaining four courses (12 credits) constituting the Minor can be chosen from ‘Philosophical Topics’, which includes Philosophy as well as interdisciplinary elective courses. Students may take their courses in any order, and can register for the Minor at any point during their undergraduate career at Pratt before the beginning of their final semester. 40% of the credits used to complete the Minor must be at the 300-level of higher.
Minor Coordinator
Lisabeth During
lduring@pratt.edu