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Philosophy

What is consciousness? Are all actions determined by outside causes? Where do morals come from? What can we know for certain? Philosophy at Huron gives you numerous chances to think hard about these and other questions that have the potential to fundamentally change the way you view and interact with the world.

In the company of expert scholars and fellow students who, like you, aren’t satisfied with accepting everything at face value, you’ll discover what the great thinkers of the past and present have said, and develop your own reasoned ideas in response.

PHILOSOPHY BROCHURE

Alumni Stories

The power to think, wield logic, reason and critical thought to better understand circumstances and articulate complex ideas continues to serve our alumni well. Graduates of Huron’s Philosophy program flourish in career fields you may never expect. Learn why these successful alumni chose to pursue Philosophy and how it has helped them distinguish themselves as influential Leaders with Heart.

  • Huron gave me competence academically and socially. My education taught me how to communicate with people from all walks of life, including those in positions of authority.
    Taylor Harris
    From Huron to Cambridge
    Read more
HONORS SPECIALIZATION
SPECIALIZATION
MAJOR
MINOR
Philosophy

Learn more about the following programs offered in Philosophy that will lead students on an exploration of philosophical figures and ideologies – from introductory courses through to a refined understanding of the most influential concepts surrounding human nature, behaviour, government, leadership and much more.

Honors Specialization
Specialization
Major
Minor
Combined Honors Specialization Faculty of Arts and Social Science/HBA

Philosophy, Reasoning, and Ethics

Learn more about the following programs offered in Philosophy, Reasoning, and Ethics to discover why your pursuit of the answers to moral and logical questions can support an enriching educational experience that will help you develop into a thoughtful Leader with Heart.

From learning how to shift your perspective, influence others and re-imagine problems to generate strategic solutions, courses in Philosophy, Reasoning, and Ethics will dramatically enhance your capacity for problem-solving, empowering you to affect positive change in your personal and professional pursuits.

Honors Specialization

Combined Honors Specialization Faculty of Arts and Social Science/HBA

Specialization

Philosophy in Commerce

Human wealth, the activity of buying and selling property and the distribution of power and resources significantly affects our day-to-day lives – both at the level of the individual, as well as our societies more broadly. Study how major philosophical minds define and analyze philosophical questions relevant to commerce, globalization, economics and the ethical practices surrounding these human activities and motivations.

Learn more about the Philosophy in Commerce major.

Religious Studies and Philosophy

Explore complex metaphysical questions about how humans situate themselves within particular natural, historical, social and religious structures. Read up some of the recognizable philosophers who attempt to grapple with some of the biggest questions occupying human thought, including the existence of God, the composition of the soul and the validity of religious experience.

Learn more about the Religious Studies and Philosophy minor.

Ethics

Courses in ethics are essential for students interested in further developing their capacity for Leadership with Heart. In our increasingly complex world, it is so important to establish a solid ethical foundation and also to be able to recognize when others actions are reflective of their oppositional, deficient or exceptional ethics.

Build upon the toolset that allows you to make sound value judgements and critically analyze circumstances to position yourself, as effectively as possible, to make decisions that will breed as much good as the real and perceived constraints of the situation will allow for.

Learn more about the Ethics minor.

Professors

Students can expect to be taught by instructors with extensive philosophical training, who have been selected for their scholarship and teaching abilities. In addition to their familiarity with the main stream of contemporary English language philosophy, individual faculty members have other areas of specialized interest and knowledge. They offer opportunities to explore intellectual currents from various times and places, ranging from ancient Greek thought to Jewish, East Asian and recent Continental traditions.

  • An education that aims to develop Leaders with Heart cannot attempt to teach students what to think, but rather, should empower them how to think, so they are able to fortify their individual moral, ethical and social ideologies to help navigate our very complex political, economic and cultural systems.
    Steve Bland, PhD
    Assistant Professor, Philosophy
    Read more
  • Every field of learning looks toward what is universal and fundamental. Philosophy can help by clarifying central terms like happiness, justice, right or wrong and true or false. Our students will learn about rational belief revision, about the criteria for judging theories and the nature of good and bad, through freewheeling philosophical debate about life’s big questions. We will try to conserve what’s most valuable from the past while following the argument where it leads.
    Glen Koehn, PHD
    Associate Professor, Chair of the Philosophy Department
    Read more
  • What I hope to do is to get students to see how ideas – even complicated ones – have a bearing on the practical concerns that we face every day of our lives.
    David Conter, PhD
    Associate Professor, Philosophy
    Read more

Philosophy Department

Tenure-stream

Program sessional and per course instructors  

Professors Emeriti

Philosophy Courses

Students learn to analyze texts critically, to reason, produce logical arguments, and communicate their ideas in an effective and persuasive manner. Courses range from logic to ethics to philosophy of law and philosophy of art.

2023 - 2024 Courses
Course – see link for Academic Calendar DescriptionInstructorSection – see links for Course Outlines
HISTSCI 2200E – History of Scientific ThoughtDoyle550
PHI 1230A – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingBland / Marsh / Marsh550 / 551 / 552
PHI 1230B – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingMarsh550
PHI 1250F – Right and WrongConter550
PHI 1250G – Right and WrongLamoureux550
PHI 1350F – Introduction to Philosophy (Reality and What We Can Know Of It)Doyle550
PHI 1370B – Form, Thought, CommunicationConter550
PHI 2074F – Business EthicsLi550 / 551
PHI 2074G – Business EthicsConter / Robb / Li550 / 551 / 552
PHI 2076F – Philosophy of Sex, Love and FriendshipEpp550
PHI 2111G – Asian PhilosophyD’Arcy550
PHI 2200F – Ancient PhilosophyKoehn550
PHI 2202F – Early Modern PhilosophyMarsh550
PHI 2228G – ReconciliationEpp550
PHI 2250 – Introduction to LogicKoehn550
PHI 2253B – Introduction to Decision AnalysisKoehn550
PHI 2263F – Philosophy of RiskLamoureux550
PHI 2264G – Philosophy of MoneyConter550
PHI 2500G – Introduction to the Theory of KnowledgeBland550
PHI 2700F – Introduction to Ethics and Value TheoryDoyle / Marsh550 / 551
PHI 2700G – Introduction to Ethics and Value TheoryDoyle / Marsh550 / 551
PHI 2760F – Civil Disobedience and Social ProtestD’Arcy550
PHI 2800F – The History of Political PhilosophyEpp550
PHI 2801G – Contemporary Political PhilosophyLi550
PHI 2812F – Cultures, Values, and Human RightsLi550
PHI 2821F – Philosophy of LawLamoureux550
PHI 2821G – Philosophy of LawLamoureux550
PHI 2822G – Topics in Philosophy of LawLamoureux550
PHI 3006G – AristotleLi550
PHI 3045G – Challenges to FascismD’Arcy550
PHI 3260G – Theories of MeaningBland550
PHI 3510G – Truth and ParadoxDoyle550
PHI 3645F – Group AgencyConter550
PHI 3710F – MetaethicsKoehn550
PHI 3720G – Normative EthicsEpp550
PHI 3725G – Animal EthicsMarsh550
PHI 3750F – EmbodimentEpp550
PHI 3810F – JusticeRobb550
PHI 3820G – Globalization and Theories of JusticeCichocki550
PHI 3840F – Case Studies in Business EthicsLamoureux550
PHI 3850F – Climate JusticeD’Arcy550
PHI 3996G – Topics in PhilosophyKoehn550
PHI 4820F – Theories of PropertyConter550
PHI 4830G – Contemporary Issues in the Philosophy of PropertyConter550
2022 - 2023 Courses
Course – Please see link for Academic Calendar Description 
Instructor
Section – Please see links for Course Outlines
PHI 1230A – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingBland / Marsh550 / 551
PHI 1230B – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingBland550
PHI 1250F – Right and WrongConter550
PHI 1250G – Right and WrongLamoureux550
PHI 1350F – Reality and What We Can Know of ItDoyle550
PHI 1370B – Form, Thought, CommunicationConter550
PHI 2074F – Business EthicsLi / Li / Robb550 / 551 / 552
PHI 2074G – Business EthicsLi / Li / Robb550 / 551 / 552
PHI 2076F – Philosophy of Sex, Love and FriendshipEpp550
PHIL 2077G – Gender & SexualityCichocki550
PHI 2111G – Asian PhilosophyD’Arcy550
PHL 2200F – Ancient PhilosophyLi550
PHI 2202G – Early Modern PhilosophyMarsh550
PHI 2250 – Introduction to LogicKoehn550
PHI 2253B – Introduction to Decision AnalysisKoehn550
PHI 2263F – Philosophy of RiskLamoureux550
PHI 2264G – Philosophy of MoneyConter550
PHI 2500G – Introduction to the Theory of KnowledgeBland550
PHL 2630G – Feminist PhilosophyEpp550
PHL 2667F – Intro to Jewish Philosophy 2Conter550
PHI 2700F – Introduction to Ethics and Value TheoryMarsh / Doyle550 / 551
PHI 2700G – Introduction to Ethics and Value TheoryMarsh / Doyle550 / 551
PHI 2760F – Civil Disobedience and Social ProtestD’Arcy550
PHI 2801G – Contemporary Political PhilosophyLi550
PHI 2812F –  Cultures, Values & Human RightsLamoureux550
PHI 2812G –  Cultures, Values & Human RightsLamoureux550
PHI 2821F  – Philosophy of LawLamoureux550
PHI 2821G – Philosophy of LawLamoureux550
PHI 2822G – Topics in Philosophy of LawConter550
PHI 3003G – PlatoKoehn550
PHI 3040F – Origins of Analytic PhilosophyDoyle550
PHI 3170F – Topics in the History of EthicsKoehn550
PHI 3501G – EpistemologyMarsh550
PHI 3601F – MetaphysicsMarsh550
PHI 3720G – Normative EthicsEpp550
PHI 3750G – EmbodimentEpp550
PHI 3810F – JusticeRobb550
PHI 3820F – Globalization & Theories of JusticeConter550
PHI 3880F – Social Construction of InstitutionsEpp550
PHI 4820F – Theories of PropertyConter550
PHI 4830G – Contemporary Issues Philosophy of PropertyConter550
HISTSCI 2200E – History of Scientific ThoughtDoyle550
2021 - 2022 Courses
CourseInstructorCourse Outline
PHI 1230A – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingBlandView course outline
PHI 1230B – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingMarsh550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 1250F – Right and WrongConterView course outline
PHI 1250G – Right and WrongLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 1350F – Reality and What We Can Know of ItDoyleView course outline
PHI 1370B – Form, Thought, CommunicationConterView course outline
PHI 2074F – Business EthicsConter / Robb550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 2074G – Business EthicsRobb550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 2076G – Sex, Love and FriendshipEppView course outline
PHI 2111F – Asian PhilosophyD’ArcyView course outline
HISTSCI 2200E – History of Scientific Thought

PHI 2200F – Ancient Philosophy

Doyle

Koehn

View course outline

View course outline

PHI 2202F – Early Modern PhilosophyMarshView course outline
PHI 2250 – Introduction to LogicKoehnView course outline
PHI 2253A – Introduction to Decision AnalysisKoehnView course outline
PHI 2263G – Philosophy of RiskLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 2264F – Philosophy of MoneyConterView course outline
PHI 2500G – Introduction to the Theory of KnowledgeMarshView course outline
PHI 2555G – Phenomenology & Existential PhilosophyD’ArcyView course outline
PHI 2662G – Topics in the Philosophy of ReligionBlandView course outline
PHI 2665F – Introduction to Jewish Philosophy 1ConterView course outline
PHI 2700F – Introduction to Ethics and Value TheoryMarsh / Doyle550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 2700G – Introduction to Ethics and Value TheoryDoyle / Marsh550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 2760F – Civil Disobedience and Social ProtestD’ArcyView course outline
PHI 2800F – History of Political PhilosophyEppView course outline
PHI 2812F –  Cultures, Values & Human RightsLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 2813G – Nationalism & Political MoralityConterView course outline
PHI 2821F  – Philosophy of LawLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 2821G – Philosophy of LawLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 2822F – Topics in Philosophy of LawLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 2822G – Topics in Philosophy of LawLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 3006G – AristotleWoodcoxView course outline
PHI 3220G – Bias, Rationality & ObjectivityBlandView course outline
PHI 3625G – Causality & Freedom of the WillConterView course outline
PHI 3645G – Group AgencyConterView course outline
PHI 3710G – MetaethicsKoehnView course outline
PHI  3750F – EmbodimentEppView course outline
PHI 3810F – JusticeRobbView course outline
PHI 3850F – Climate JusticeD’ArcyView course outline
PHI 3880G – Social Construction of InstitutionsEppView course outline
2020 - 2021 Courses
CourseInstructorCourse Outline
PHI 1230A – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingMarshView course outline
PHI 1230B – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingMarsh550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 1250F – Right and WrongConter550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 1250G – Right and WrongLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 1350F – Reality and What We Can Know of ItDoyleView course outline
PHI 1350G – Reality and What We Can Know of ItDoyleView course outline
PHI 1370B – Form, Thought, CommunicationConterView course outline
PHL 2074F – Business Ethics

PHI 2074F – Business Ethics

Ponesse

Robb

View course outline

View course outline

PHI 2076G – Sex, Love and FriendshipEppView course outline
PHI 2200F – Ancient PhilosophyKoehnView course outline
PHI 2202F – Early Modern PhilosophyMarshView course outline
PHI 2250 – Introduction to LogicKoehnView course outline
PHI 2253A – Introduction to Decision AnalysisKoehnView course outline
PHI 2264G – Philosophy of MoneyConterView course outline
PHI 2500F – Introduction to the Theory of KnowledgeMarshView course outline
PHI 2630F – Feminist PhilosophyEppView course outline
PHI 2700F – Introduction to Ethics and Value TheoryMarshView course outline
PHI 2700G – Introduction to Ethics and Value TheoryMarsh550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 2760G – Civil Disobedience and Social ProtestD’ArcyView course outline
PHI 2801F – Contemporary Political PhilosophyRobbView course outline
PHI 2821F – Philosophy of LawConterView course outline
PHI 2822G – Topics in Philosophy of LawLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 3003G – Plato

PHI 3501G – Epistemology

Ponesse

Bland

View course outline

View course outline

PHI 3510G – Truth and ParadoxKoehnView course outline
PHI 3720G – Normative EthicsEppView course outline
PHI 3810G – JusticeRobbView course outline
PHI 3840F – Case Studies in Business EthicsLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 3850G – Climate JusticeD’ArcyView course outline
PHI 3880F – Social Construction of InstitutionsEppView course outline
PHI 3910G – AestheticsConterView course outline
PHI 4830G – Contemporary Issues in the Philosophy of PropertyConterView course outline
PHI 4851F – Philosophy of LawConterView course outline
PHI 4996F – Advanced Topics in PhilosophyKoehnView course outline
2019 - 2020 Courses
CourseInstructorCourse Outline
PHI 1230A – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingBland / Marsh550 outline / 551 outline
PHI 1230B – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingBlandView course outline
PHI 1250F – Right and WrongConterView course outline
PHI 1250G – Right and WrongLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 1350G – Reality and What We Can Know of ItDoyleView course outline
PHI 1370B – Form, Thought, CommunicationConterView course outline
PHI 2074F – Business Ethics

PHI 2074G – Business Ethics

PHI 2076G – Phil of Sex, Love & Friendship

PHI 2111F – Asian Philosophy

Ponesse

Ponesse

Ponesse

D’Arcy

View course outline

View course outline

View course outline

View course outline

PHI 2200F – Ancient PhilosophyMacDonaldView course outline
PHI 2202F – Early Modern PhilosophyBlandView course outline
PHI 2250 – Introduction to LogicKoehnView course outline
PHI 2253A – Introduction to Decision AnalysisMarshView course outline
PHI 2263G – Philosophy of RiskLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 2264G – Philosophy of MoneyConterView course outline
PHI 2500F – Introduction to the Theory of KnowledgeBlandView course outline
PHI 2555G – Phenom & Existential PhilosophyD’ArcyView course outline
PHI 2700F – Introduction to Ethics and Value TheoryD’ArcyView course outline
PHI 2700G – Introduction to Ethics and Value TheoryMarshView course outline
PHI 2800F – History of Political PhilosophyRobbView course outline
PHI 2812F – Cultures, Values & Human Rights

PHI 2813F – Nationalism & Political Morality

Ponesse

Conter

View course outline

View course outline

PHI 2822F – Topics in Philosophy of LawConterView course outline
PHI 2996G – Stoics, Skeptics and EpicureansKoehnView course outline
PHI 3220G – Bias, Rationality & ObjectivityBlandView course outline
PHI 3645F – Group AgencyConterView course outline
PHI 3810G – JusticeRobbView course outline
PHI 3820G – Globalization and Theories of JusticeD’ArcyView course outline
PHI 3840F – Case Studies in Business EthicsLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 4820G – Theories of PropertyConterView course outline
2018 - 2019 Courses
CourseInstructorCourse Outline
PHI 1230A – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingBlandView course outline
PHI 1230B – Reasoning and Critical ThinkingMarshView course outline
PHI 1250F – Right and WrongConterView course outline
PHI 1250G – Right and WrongLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 1350G – Reality and What We Can Know of ItDoyleView course outline
PHI 1370B – Form, Thought, CommunicationConterView course outline
PHI 2076G – Sex, Love and FriendshipEppView course outline
PHI 2202F – Early Modern PhilosophyBlandView course outline
PHI 2250 – Introduction to LogicKoehnView course outline
PHI 2253A – Introduction to Decision AnalysisKoehnView course outline
PHI 2263G – Philosophy of RiskBlandView course outline
PHI 2400F – Philosophy of MindMarshView course outline
PHI 2500F – Introduction to the Theory of KnowledgeBlandView course outline
PHI 2665G – Introduction to Jewish PhilosophyConterView course outline
PHI 2700F – Introduction to Ethics and Value TheoryD’ArcyView course outline
PHI 2760G – Civil DisobedienceD’ArcyView course outline
PHI 2801G – Contemporary Political Philosophy D’ArcyView course outline
PHI 2812G – Cultures, Values & Human RightsConterView course outline
PHI 2821F – Philosophy of LawConterView course outline
PHI 2822G – Topics in Philosophy of LawLamoureauxView course outline
PHI 3007G – Topics in Ancient PhilosophyMacDonaldView course outline
PHI 3040G – Origins of Analytic PhilosophyDoyleView course outline
PHI 3501G – EpistemologyBlandView course outline
PHI 3710G – MetaethicsKoehnView course outline
PHI 3810G – JusticeRobbView course outline
PHI 3820F – Globalization and Theories of JusticeD’ArcyView course outline
PHI 3840F – Case Studies in Business EthicsLamoureuxView course outline
PHI 3880F – Social Ontology (Social Construction of InstitutionsEppView course outline
PHI 4851G – Philosophy of Law: Free Speech on CampusConterView course outline

Careers - Philosophy

Learning to analyze arguments and think for yourself is exciting. It is also a fundamental skill for Leaders with Heart who must know how to think critically, ask questions and relentlessly pursue wise and just answers. It’s no accident many leaders in law, business and government have a background in philosophy. Our grads have gone on to careers and studies in things such as:

Where will a degree in Philosophy take you?
  • Law
  • Education
  • Public Relations
  • Policy
  • Foreign service
  • Medicine
  • Communications
  • Investment counselling
  • Market research
  • Journalism
  • Politics
  • Biomedical ethics
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