Department of Philosophy and Classics

If you've ever wondered about "what truth is", or "what exists", or "what makes a life an ethical one", then philosophy is the place to go. If you are interested in what life was like in ancient civilizations, or if you have ever wanted to learn the ancient languages, then classics is the place for you.

The Department of Philosophy and Classics houses two distinct disciplines that can help you discover the answers to many of these questions and more.

Philosophy

Philosophy can be described in many ways. It is a reasoned pursuit of fundamental truths, a quest for understanding, a study of principles of conduct. It seeks to establish standards of evidence, to provide rational methods of resolving conflicts, and to create techniques for evaluating ideas and arguments. Philosophy is also concerned with problems whose solutions do not depend on discovering new facts, but rather on ways of thinking about facts. The essential tool of philosophy is reasoning.

Philosophy is best studied for its own sake. Recent studies, however, have indicated that employers want and reward many of the capacities which the study of philosophy develops: for instance, the ability to solve problems, to communicate, or organize ideas and issues, to assess pros and cons, and to boil down complex data. "Majors in liberal arts fields, in which philosophy is a central discipline, continue to make a strong showing in managerial skills and have experienced considerable business success" (Career Patterns, by Robert E. Beck). In addition, there are people trained in philosophy in just about every field. They have gone not only into such professions as teaching, medicine, and law, but into computer science, management, publishing, sales, criminal justice, public relations as well as legislative staffs.

Classical Studies

Classical Studies explores the whole of the Greek and Roman past, its languages and literature, history, art and ideas. The civilizations that flourished in Greece and Rome from the Bronze Age to the fourth century AD have profoundly influenced the way we think about the world in Canada today, from our political systems to our language, literature, law, politics, art and architecture. The rediscovery of the classics in sixteenth century Europe led to a "Renaissance," or rebirth, of artistic and cultural creativity. Their influence is no less pervasive today.

You will gain an insight into our contemporary world by learning about the cultures that have influenced it.  A degree in Classics prepares you for anything that requires disciplined, creative thinking.  Graduates find employment in organizations that look for well-educated people who can think and write well, who are flexible and creative.