Philosophy Program

The Department of Philosophy offers a major program that serves two different goals:

For students who desire to achieve a general liberal arts education and who do not plan to do graduate work in philosophy, courses are selected to enable the student to become a cultured, liberally-educated person.
For students who plan to do graduate work in philosophy, the department has designated a faculty adviser for preprofessional philosophy. This adviser carefully selects a series of courses and seminars in order to give the students a firm grounding in the discipline and prepare them for acceptance into graduate school.

Meet Keegan Miller

Keegan, a philosophy/pre-law major, enjoys presenting legal cases in Mock Trial and mentoring children through Bona Buddies.

Why choose philosophy?

Philosophy addresses one's life as well as one’s career.

The aim of philosophy courses is to help the undergraduate student examine the ultimate nature of people, the universe, God, the basic principles of moral evaluation as they apply to personal questions and social and political policies.

Since these concepts underlie most human endeavors, the study of philosophy, together with the practice of its methods of analysis and argumentation, prepares students to responsibly address basic problems later encountered, whether personal, social, or professional.

Nationally, philosophy majors rank second of all (nearly 100 tested) majors in verbal and analytical aptitudes.

Philosophy assists the student in reasoning well and writing effectively. Consequently, a philosophy major serves as an excellent preparation for the professions, including law, business, and government service as well as for graduate study and the teaching of philosophy.

Philosophy prelaw

The department offers a philosophy prelaw program for those students interested in philosophy or a general arts education, and in pursuing a legal career. It is generally acknowledged that a concentration in philosophy and the other arts provides an appropriate basis for the study of law. Students in the prelaw program complete the requirements of the Philosophy, Law and Politics track, which are presented on the catalog's Philosophy BA page.

Learn more about the prelaw track by contacting Dr. Alex Gillham, assistant professor of philosophy, by email.

Program information

The Department of Philosophy offers a B.A. in philosophy and five minors in philosophy.

Bachelor of Arts in philosophy

From matters of law and politics to ethics and medicine, from justice and society to art and literature, the major in philosophy enables students to thoughtfully understand and critically assess the essential dimensions of these pressing issues. In the process, the major helps students to develop crucial cognitive skills in logical thinking, interpretive comprehension, critical evaluation, and argumentative writing.

The student tailors the program of study to their specific interests by selecting one of four possible tracks: 1. philosophy, law and politics; 2. philosophy and social justice; 3. philosophy, art & literature; and 4. philosophy, ethics and medicine.

Degree requirements and a four-year plan for the philosophy major

Upon successful completion of the Philosophy program at St. Bonaventure University graduates will be able to:

follow arguments presented in written texts;
determine the assumptions and implications of philosophical positions;
understand how arguments are related in a developed philosophical text;
appreciate the form and content of philosophical texts;
produce arguments that form a coherent philosophical position;
engage other points of view;
respond to constructive criticism;
articulate their views clearly and effectively;
appreciate divergent perspectives in philosophical debate;
appreciate the positive role of criticism in advancing philosophical debate;
appreciate the relevance of and weight of reasons in philosophical debate;
engage other philosophical perspectives in dialogue;
appreciate the values that underlie philosophical discourse;
appreciate the above outcomes as they are found in legal argumentation.

Philosophy minors

For non-majors, the philosophy minors enable students to pursue course work that will supplement their major field of study.

Students may choose between the general philosophy minor and a philosophy minor with one of four possible tracks: 1. philosophy, law and politics; 2. philosophy and social justice; 3. philosophy, art & literature; and 4. philosophy, ethics and medicine.

Requirements for the philosophy minors

SBU mock trial students excel at regional tournament

Feb 11, 2020

The SBU mock trial teams competed at the American Mock Trial Association’s Buffalo Regional Tournament Feb. 8-9, with a number of students earning individual awards and one team advancing on to the next stage of competition.

The St. Bonaventure A Team was one of only five in a field of 20 teams advancing to the AMTA Opening Round of the Championship Series (ORCS). The team will compete March 6-8 in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, opening round tournament, one of eight such tournaments held across the nation.

This is the fourth time in the past seven years that an SBU team has advanced to ORCS. In addition to the team’s success, seven SBU mockers received individual awards. Ten witnesses competing at the tournament were recognized as “all regional witnesses.” Three SBU mockers received this distinction: Theresa Rabbia, Kelly Bailey and Makenna McCartney.

Eighteen attorneys were recognized as “all regional attorneys.” Four SBU mockers received this distinction: Hanna Oleski, Daniel Bakowski, Brandy Morse and Hannah Merges.

The A Team also received the coveted Spirit of AMTA Award. This award is given to the team that best exemplifies the ideals of honesty, civility and fair play. Teams rate their competitors on a 10-point scale. An overall score of 30 represents a perfect score. The SBU A Team received a perfect score.

This is the fourth time this year that an SBU team has received the tournament Spirit Award.

“This speaks volumes about the character of the students on our teams and how highly they are regarded by those with whom we compete. I could not be more proud of our mock trial teams,” said Dr. Steven Nuttall, associate professor of philosophy and director of the Center for Law and Society at St. Bonaventure.

The following is a list of SBU mockers who competed in the regional tournament: Landon Allison, Kelly Bailey, Daniel Bakowski, Nathan Dasilva, Leah Gale, Ian Joseph, Bryce Kelly, Makenna McCartney, Hannah Merges, Brandy Morse, Trevor North, Hanna Oleski, Elias Petri, Theresa Rabbia, Julia Schneider, and Selena Vazquez.

Dr. Russell J. Woodruff

Chair of the Philosophy Department

Associate Professor of Philosophy

(716) 375-2470

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Plassmann Hall 309