Philosophy
Philosophy is the most ancient of the academic disciplines, with an unbroken history stretching back to the sixth century before the birth of Christ. At first glance, many of the traditional questions of philosophy, such as "Is there a physical world?" or "Do other people have minds?", seem odd. But upon closer examination, it turns out that these questions are important and surprisingly difficult to answer. There are no observations or experiments that can be used to decide these questions: the tool available to the philosopher is reasoning. Consequently, in order to investigate the problems that concern them, over the centuries philosophers have developed powerful techniques. These methods have been applied to a very wide range of questions such as:
• What is the difference between right and wrong or between good and evil?
• Is it possible to prove the existence of God?
• What is the nature of existence?
• What is the difference between mind and matter?
Students who study philosophy not only learn about the traditional problems of philosophy, but also learn the highly important skill of proficient analysis of arguments and positions.
A background in philosophy is excellent preparation for a wide range of careers that demand critical thinking, analysis, and the ability to understand and synthesize knowledge. One of the expanding careers in business, medicine, and the environment is that of ethics officer. This is someone who is responsible for monitoring policies and employee management responsibilities to ensure that ethical guidelines are satisfied. A background in philosophy, particularly ethics, is crucial for this career.
Philosophical experience, especially formal logic, philosophy of science, and philosophy of mind, is a strong preparation for careers in computing, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. Finally, anyone pursuing a career in law would benefit from a number of philosophy courses, including logic, critical thinking, ethics, and political philosophy. Students majoring in Philosophy will transfer to the university of their choice after two years at RDC. Work with an advisor to make sure you know the program and admission requirements of that university.
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Important sources of information
RDC Calendar
Academic Advisors : 403.342.3400
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Room 3100
t: 403.342.3304 | e: ba@rdc.ab.ca | www.rdc.ab.ca/humss
Head of Philosophy
Guillermo Barron | e: guillermo.barron@rdc.ab.ca