Welcome to the Department of Philosophy!

Registering for Fall 26 courses? Here are some highlights!

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PHIL 2000 | Critical Reasoning | Dr. Bloch-Mullins | MWF 12pm-12:50pm | 3 cr.

This course introduces fundamental principles and forms of good reasoning, as well as methods for distinguishing good reasoning from bad reasoning and for recognizing common fallacies. It develops skills by analyzing natural language examples, such as political speeches, op-eds, advertisements, and scientific and legal texts, and trains students to become intellectually honest, rigorous, and persuasive reasoners. MCC: COG

PHIL 2955H | Honors Introduction to Philosophical Debate: Philosophy of Autism
Dr. Fritz | Th 2pm-2:50pm | 1 cr. 

Autism is a neurological condition that affects 1 in 31 children and 1 in 45 adults. How should Autism be defined? Who should be allowed to diagnose Autism? What implications does Autism have on theories of personhood which rely upon conforming to certain standards and ethical theories which appeal to empathy as a moral foundation? This course examines the philosophical implications of Autism, as well the experiences of Autistic people who find unique ways of navigating the world. 

PHIL 3955H | Honors Readings in Philosophy: Luisa Capetillo, A Nation of Women
Dr. Rivera Berruz | M 1pm-1:50pm | 1 cr.

Luisa Capetillo (1875-1922) was a Puerto Rican anarcho-feminist writer, as well as an ardent activist, a traveler, and a reader in cigar factories. Her works critically engage the topics of marriage, love, religion, colonialism, imperialism, and economic dispossession. Through a close reading of A Nation of Women: An Early Feminist Speaks Out, we will analyze how Capetillo’s system of thought hangs together and the ways her challenges to the political order of her times are still relevant today.

PHIL 4954 | Writing-Intensive Seminar in Philosophy: Aristotle's Ethics and Politics (3 cr.) | O. Goldin | T 2pm-3:15pm | 3 cr.

“What a radical idea. A great gift that our Founders gave to us: The freedom to chase our individual dreams through our sweat and toil and imagination, and the imperative to strive together, as well, to achieve a common good, a greater good.” – Barack Obama

Appeals to “the common good,” and “human flourishing” are common in the social sciences and psychology. But what do they mean? To really think them through, one must turn to their basis in the writings of Aristotle. In this class we will read and discuss much of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and Politics (with some reference to other works). MCC: Writing-Intensive

 

For a complete list of Fall 26 course, go to Undergraduate Courses. For information on how to enroll in courses, go to Undergraduate Resources or contact your Philosophy adviser.

 

Upcoming events

Marquette Philosophy Colloquium Talk
"Hell is Other Robots: Participatory Sense-Making and GenAI"
Dr. Robin Zebrowski (Beloit College)
Friday, April 17th at 3:30
Lemonis Center for Student Success, 242b

Despite the existence of Generative AI (GenAI) preceding OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in November of 2022, that event catalyzed a wide embrace of such tools across almost all aspects of daily life. GenAI tools have turned up in such unlikely places as dating apps and even in hospital rooms. But for academics, such tools have been extremely polarizing, being openly embraced by some as collaborators in the knowledge process, while being cursed and scorned by so many others who accuse it of trying to automate the juice of academic work itself: deep thought. As a result, there is a good deal of academic (and public/popular) discourse about whether these tools can substitute for humans in all sorts of different relationships, both intimate and professional.

Department news

Dr. Michael Olson receives 2026 Way Klingler Teaching Enhancement Award.

Dr. Rivera Berruz's ‘Fundamentos in Filosofía’ provides Marquette students bilingual option for core curriculum.

Dr. Michael Olson and his Fall CORE 1929 class were featured on WUWM! Read or listen to the full story on the WUWM website.WUWM picture of CORE1929

PHIL Grad student Alex Dong, who has been selected by the Graduate School as the recipient of the 2026 Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award for Instructor of Record, reflects on her journey from Shenzhen to Milwaukee in Marquette Today

Profs. Theresa Tobin and Dawne Moon recently appeared on WUWM's Lake Effect to discuss their new book, Choosing Love. 

Dr. Ericka Tucker has  been selected for Philosophy in Media fellows  in Podcasting and Production. She will be part of a select group of 15 to receive a two-and-a-half-day workshop led by Mia Lobel of Slate, Alix Spiegel of This American Life.