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

Faculty Office Hours Finals Week Winter 2025

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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

Professors Wenhui Xie and Andrew Spear in front of Pantheon in Rome, Italy at night.

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.

Philosophy Department Summer 2025 Classes

The Philosophy Department Will Be holding the following summer classes.

Ethics

PHI 102-02

What is good? What is evil? Are there objective standards for right and wrong? What are these objective standards? How can they be applied to important contemporary moral problems? This course considers the answers philosophers give to these and related questions.

Fulfills Foundations-Philosophy and Literature

Part of Semester: May 05-June 18 (1st 6 weeks)

Days: Monday and Wednesday

Times: 12:00 PM-3:20 PM

Location: MAK-A-1-151

Professor: Dwayne Tunstall

Questions: Email [email protected]

Seats Still Available For Spring/Summer 2025!

Knowledge, Politics, and Social Media

PHI 204-01

An introduction to philosophy focused on humans as knowing beings and as social-political beings. The course explores classical philosophical issues concerning how these facets of human existence interact, and applies the understanding gained to analyze how these interactions affect and are affected by the Internet and social media.

Fulfills Foundations-Philosophy and Literature

Part of Semester: May 05-June 18 (1st 6 weeks)

Days: Tuesday and Thursday

Times: 6:00 PM-9:20 PM

Location: DEV-117E

Professor: Andrew Spear

Questions: Email [email protected]

Seats Still Available for Spring/Summer 2025!

SWS Aesthetics

PHI 220-01

An inquiry into the nature, criteria, and significance of the fine arts and/or artistic creation and response.

Fulfills Foundations-Arts