Philosophy  
 

AQ Difference
 
"Activism for a New Millennium"

A panel discussion featuring Dotti Clune; activist, organizer, and local freelance writer, Paula Melin; Muskegon school teacher, Doris Rucks; retired professor of Women's Studies and African American Studies at GVSU. Hosted by Dr. Michaeleen Kelly.
 
Student Learning Outcomes
  1. Students will acquire knowledge of the history and major theories of western and eastern philosophy.
  2. Students will demonstrate the ability to apply critical thinking skills in reading and writing.
  3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of and an ability to express philosophical ideas.
  4. Students will be able to formulate, in both spoken and written form, clear, well supported ideas.
 
Philosophy Department Vision Statement
The Philosophy Department at Aquinas College is committed to the following goals:
 
I. To provide the general student population with the skills and enthusiasm for doing critical thinking regarding philosophical issues. More particularly, this is accomplished by providing a broad historical overview of some of the answers provided to certain perennial philosophical questions, such as, what is Truth? Reality? Justice? Knowledge? Power? and/or by providing students with several opportunities to answer these questions on their own in essay form. These questions are foundational for many of the other disciplines and acquiring the skills for answering them cogently, logically and persuasively is invaluable to the college student.
 
II. To develop an interest in pursuing a philosophy major as a basis for professional work in philosophy, law, medical or environmental ethics, journalism, teaching or public policy work. This requires ongoing contact on the part of the department members with the majors in order for them to tailor their degree to their particular professional goals, and requires a faculty with diverse research and teaching interests, methodologies and professional experiences which are conductive to supporting a philosophy major.
 
III. Finally, philosophy has traditionally been viewed as a source of insight into foundational issues in the other disciplines, whether they are of a conceptual, ethical, historical or theoretical nature. We in the philosophy department want to involve ourselves as much as possible in the work of our colleagues as it relates to the discovery of answers to the philosophical questions in their discipline. Philosophy faculty also participate in the colleges General Education core program: Inquiry & Expression and Humanities.