Study Philosophy at St. Mary’s University

Students in the Department of Philosophy at St. Mary’s University combine the study of philosophy as an academic discipline with the practice of philosophy as a way of life.

Guided by logic, epistemology, metaphysics, ethics and aesthetics from philosophical traditions around the world, from antiquity to the present, philosophy students ask “the big questions” about what’s true, real, good and beautiful. Through personal reflection and critical thinking, they apply the lessons of their coursework and the results of their research to the world and their own lives.

The St. Mary’s University Department of Philosophy teaches and guides students in philosophical inquiry, helping them to integrate the study of philosophy as an academic discipline with the practice of philosophy as a way of life.

As integral to our mission, we as a faculty attempt to embody the meaning of philosophy through the pursuit of critical inquiry in the classroom and in our professional and social lives. Through teaching courses in the Core Curriculum, we also bring philosophical inquiry as a way of life to all students at St. Mary’s, where philosophy sits alongside theology at the authentic core of a Marianist education.

Department Commitment

Ethics Bowl

St. Mary's professors and students post in front of a backdrop that has the University logo

The Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl is a unique, collaborative experience for undergraduate students that provides valuable educational experience in practical and professional ethics.

Ethics Bowl teams spend hours analyzing and preparing for regional and national competitions to see who has thought most deeply and presented their arguments most clearly on cases based on today’s most pressing issues. Students develop an ethical understanding of complex, ambiguous and difficult to resolve issues, as well as key virtues associated with democratic deliberation.

The Texas Regional Ethics Bowl traditionally includes teams from Texas but also invites teams from around the region, including, but not limited to, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana and Arkansas.

Academic Programs in the Department of Philosophy

Philosophy

Faculty in the Department of Philosophy

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