Philosophy

Minné Hall, Room 329 ((507) 457-5663)
www.winona.edu/philosophy
Email: eslowik@winona.edu
Edward Slowik (Chairperson)

Faculty

Edward Slowik, Professor; BA, University of Illinois at Chicago; MA, PhD, Ohio State University; 1998 –
David Speetzen, Assistant Professor; BA, University of Minnesota-Morris; MA, PhD, Washington University 2010 –

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” - Socrates

“He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that.” - J. S. Mill

Philosophy is the examination of ideas and the evaluation of first principles. In addition to studying its own traditional areas such as ethics, logic, metaphysics and epistemology, philosophy investigates other disciplines by critically reviewing their foundations and methods. Philosophy helps us free ourselves from dogmatic or unreflective habits of mind. It instills habits of intellectual integrity, impartiality, and rationality. Philosophy enlarges our conception of what is possible and enriches our intellectual imagination. Accordingly, philosophy is an essential ingredient of any sound education.

Besides providing individual courses, the Philosophy Department offers a well-rounded minor in philosophy. The minor provides an introduction to ethics, logic, and the history of philosophy. It also helps students develop crucial intellectual skills such as critical thinking, logical reasoning, and conceptual analysis; in short, it helps students learn to think for themselves. Emphasis is balanced between philosophical content and the cultivation of philosophical thinking.

Most of the philosophy courses are also General Education courses. Therefore, students can complete most of the requirements for a philosophy minor while satisfying their General Education Program requirements. The electives in the minor enable students to tailor the program to their own interests and major.

Pass/No Credit (P/NC) Courses

Students must take all courses for the minor on a grade-only basis. The P/NC option is available to non-minors unless otherwise noted. Courses offered on a pass/no credit-only or grade-only basis are so designated in the course descriptions.