The Department of Philosophy offers both a Major and a Minor in Philosophy. The Department counts 21 full-time faculty members working in a variety of specialties. It has over 80 majors and over 50 minors.

The Department's international faculty is made of active scholars who are committed to undergraduate education. They are at Grand Valley to share their expertise in a wide variety of philosophical schools, national traditions, historical periods, and specialized areas of philosophical work.

The curriculum is designed to provide a foundation of solid understanding of the history of philosophy, but also to encourage students to pursue work in their own areas of interest. Formal coursework is only one part of the Philosophy student's education. Since inquiry and study are most fruitful when conducted in a vital community of fellow scholars, the Department is committed to offering a number of excellent learning opportunities that go beyond traditional classroom structures.

  Calendar 

The Philosophy Department is delighted to welcome three new members: 

Andrew Spear (SUNY Buffallo).  AOS: Epistemology/Metaphysics.

Dwayne Tunstall (Southern Illinois University Carbondale).  Currently Visiting Assistant Professor at GVSU.  AOS: Continental Philosophy, American Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion.

David Vessey (Notre Dame).  Currently Lecturer at the Humanities Division, University of Chicago.  AOS 19^th and 20^th Century Continental Philosophy.

will join the Department in the Fall of 2008.

 The 2008 Dewey J. Hoitenga Philosophy Essay Contest was awarded to:    

Jessica Peters

For her essay: 

“With an Open Hand:  Tracing the Vision of William James”

2007 Philosophy Distinguished Alumna-In-Residence

Heather Allegrina-Bowe

From Left to Right: Robert Kopperl (2007 Anthropology Distinguished Alumnus-In-Residence, 1995graduate in Philosophy and Anthropology), Prof. Kelly Parker, Brian Bowe, Heather Allegrina-Bowe, Prof. Noel Boyle, Prof. Teresa Castelao-Lawless

2007 Philosophy Distinguished Alumna-In-Residence, Heather Allegrina-Bowe gets annoyed with people who make jokes about the legendary lack of job opportunities for philosophy majors -- she draws on her philosophy studies every day. In her position as Business Operations Manager for the Carlson Vacation & Business Travel (CVBT) Division of Carlson Travel Group, she's constantly faced with decisions that bring her training in logic and ethics into action. Based in Holland, Heather provides overall direction for corporate business travel operations in Holland and Schaumburg, Il. She is responsible to develop a strong day-to-day operation flow and to create and maintain an environment of teamwork. Heather has been in the top 75th percentile of all Carlson Companies managers for the past five years running in its annual Gallup survey. Nobody else in CVBT has ever achieved this rating.

Ranked among the largest privately held corporations in the United States, Carlson is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Carlson-related brands and services employ about 190,000 people in more than 145 countries. Carlson is on Working Mother magazine's 2001-2004 lists of "The 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers", and Fortune magazine's 2002 list of "The 100 Best Companies to Work For."

She describes her time in the philosophy department at GVSU as "transformative," and she frequently speaks of the guidance and instruction she received from professors like Mark Pestana, Kelly Parker, Stephen Rowe, Peimin Ni, Mark Moes, and Michael DeWilde. She was one of the charter members of the Philosophy Club and is proud to hear that it is still a healthy and functioning club.

Heather is a drummer with the garage rock band The Veloras and is committed to fitness. She's in the process of becoming certified as a yoga instructor, and she's training to run her first marathon in 2008.

October 10                           Eric Hanson, Philosophy Dept.

MAK BLL-110, 3:30-5:00 pm              “Zhuangzi's Freedom in the World:  Making the Most Out of   

                                                               Chaos."

October 31                           David Vessey, Philosophy Dept.

MAK BLL-110, 3:30-5:00 pm             "Moderate and Immoderate Candor: Michel Foucault’s   

                                                              Parrhesia without Sophrosyne"