Department of Philosophy
The Department of Philosophy is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and offers both a Major and a Minor in Philosophy.
The Department counts 21 full-time faculty members working in a variety of specialties, who are active scholars committed to undergraduate education. They 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 students with a foundation in the history of philosophy and 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.
Office Hours
Winter 2026 Office Hours
Office Hours Winter 2026
Last Name
August
First Name
John
Email
augustj@gvsu.edu
Location and Hours
MAK-B-3-215: Mon./Wed.: 2:00 PM-3:00 PM
Location and Hours 2
Remote (Please Email For Link): Fri.: 3:00 PM-5:00 PM
Notes
Also Offers Office Hours By Appointment. Please Email To Set An
Appointment Up.
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Congratulations Are In Order
Professor Teresa Castelao-Lawless (left), Professor Alycia LaGuardia-LoBianco (center), and Professor Andrew Spear (right) at the Tenure and Promotion Reception on September 11, 2025 in the GVSU Alumni House.
Congratulations to Professor Alycia LaGuardia-Lobianco on the promotion to Associate Professor and Tenure, and also to Professor Ronald Loeffler on the promotion to Full Professor!
Philosophy Colloquium
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Philosophy Colloquium Series Presents...
Total Deontic Folk Relationalism
Presented by Dr. David Killoren, GVSU Philosophy
February 27, 2026
3:00 PM-4:30 PM
Mackinac Hall B-1-138
Talk Description: Total deontic folk relationalism (TDFR) is a new family of comprehensive moral theories. It represents an alternative to the standard theoretical traditions in modern moral philosophy, such as utilitarianism, contractualism, and care ethics. In this presentation, I will introduce TDFR and will describe some of its main advantages and disadvantages.
Presenter Bio: Dr. David Killoren, GVSU Philosophy, is a Visiting Assistant Professor who specializes in moral philosophy. He's published work in the areas of metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics in well-regarded venues such as Philosophical Studies, Oxford Studies in Metaethics, Ethical Theory & Moral Practice, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Journal of Ethics & Social Philosophy, Journal of Applied Philosophy, and Analytic Philosophy, among other places.
Questions: Please email Professor Alycia LaGuardia-LoBianco ([email protected])
Articles/Interviews
Professor Judy Whipps is featured on the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy’s homepage in their “I am an American philosopher” interview series. Read the whole interview here (https://american-philosophy.org/i-am-an-american-philosopher-interview-series/i-am-an-american-philosopher-judy-whipps/)
Professor Judy Whipps
Recent Happenings For GVSU Philosophy
GVSU philosophers in the world: Professors. Wenhui Xie and Andrew Spear at the world Congress of philosophy in Rome, August 2024. Professors Xie and Spear both presented their research, attended other sessions at the conference, and spent some time one evening checking out the architecture of Rome.
Past Events
Majors Fair
BMS and Philosophy Major Jonathan McCabe and Prof. of Philosophy Andrew Spear want YOU to major in Philosophy!
