Studies in Philosophy

At Caltech, students have the opportunity to study philosophy with the members of a world-class philosophy faculty and members of a vibrant community of visiting scholars. Undergraduate study in philosophy includes Freshman courses, advanced courses, tutorials, and supervision of theses. All philosophy classes are small, which allows plenty of opportunity for discussion, as well as individual attention from the faculty.

Freshman courses in philosophy, which satisfy the institute's core humanities requirement, introduce students to some of the central topics of philosophy: the nature of morality, reality and our knowledge of it, science and its relationship to other human endeavors. These classes expose students to many of the classics of philosophy by authors such as Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, and Mill, as well as to more recent works by figures like John Rawls and Thomas Kuhn. These courses serve not only to introduce students to philosophy, but alsoto teach some of the essential tools of research: critical thinking and the analysis of arguments; clear and persuasive writing; articulate oral expressionand constructive dialogue.

Upper level classes focus on a variety of topics. The Caltech faculty is particularly strong in the philosophy of science, and many courses engage students' scientific background. For example, students may take classes in which they examine the bearing of recent developments in neuroscience upon conceptions of human nature, the philosophical presuppositions of relativity theory, or the ethics of scientific research. Many Caltech students enjoy the opportunity to approach scientific topics from a different angle. The philosophy faculty joins the history faculty in administering the program in History and Philosophy of Science. Students may pursue this subject either as a major option, or as a minor in conjunction with an option in science. Either way, students have the opportunity to attend a series of lectures by distinguished visiting scholars, and to pursue independent research projects under faculty supervision.