Note from the Chair
Welcome! Whether you’re taking a single introductory course or working for a BA, MA, or PhD, the Department of Philosophy at the University of Missouri is proud to offer excellent philosophical training. In addition to introductory and historical courses, we offer courses in traditional areas of philosophy such as metaphysics, ethics, and epistemology, as well as in such non-traditional areas as philosophy of biology, decision theory, and Asian philosophy.
The philosophical education we provide is nourished by the outstanding research of our nationally and internationally renowned faculty. Their books have recently been published by such outstanding presses as Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press, and their papers have appeared in such outstanding international journals as The Philosophical Review, Journal of Philosophy, Noûs, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, and Mind.
The Department of Philosophy is strongly committed to fostering intellectual skills that will serve students well outside philosophy. For example, it requires that all upper-level undergraduate (i.e., 3000- or 4000-level) courses, other than logic courses, include a substantial paper-writing component, typically in the form of one or more thesis-defense papers.
To learn more about our great department, please browse this website - and don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
All students with an interest in philosophy are welcome here.
Andrew Melnyk
Chair and Professor of Philosophy
p.s. MU's Philosophy Department is now on Facebook!
News
9-04-09: Congratulations to Paul Weirich on winning MU's 2009 William H. Byler Distinguished Professor Award, which recognizes outstanding abilities, performance, and character!
8-25-09: Congratulations to Rich Foley of the Department of Classical Studies on winning the Journal of the History of Philosophy's annual prize for the best contribution to the Articles section of the Journal with his "Plato's Undividable Line: Contradiction and Method in Republic VI" (Vol. 46: 1-24)!
8-25-09: Congratulations to Robert Johnson on his promotion to professor, and to Claire Horisk on her tenure and promotion to associate professor!
8-17-09: The 2009 issue of the department newsletter Communiqué (pdf) is available for download.
7-9-09: We learned today the extremely sad news that Scott Davey died this evening at 6:45pm in The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati. He had been in intensive care for several weeks. The courage and dignity with which he handled the huge challenges of his health were truly inspirational.
5-29-09: Andrew Moon (ABD) has a paper forthcoming in Mind, and has also won this year's one and only MU Chancellor's Dissertation Fellowship.
5-29-09: Alan Tomhave (PhD, 2008) has accepted a tenure-track position at Youngstown State University, Ohio.