Welcome to Philosophy

Home of Philosophy & Religious Studies
The Philosophy program at Green Mountain College develops students' critical thinking skills while exploring vital problems of human existence affecting how we understand ourselves and nature, how we act in relation to others, and what has significance for our lives. Green Mountain's philosophy program is distinctive in its focus on applied philosophy, that is, on issues related to how we should live, how we should govern ourselves, and how we should come to understand the world. It emphasizes connections between basic philosophical questions and the relation of humans to their cultural and natural environments.

In this way, students learn to think critically about beliefs, values, and prejudices. It also provides students with a broad background in the history of philosophy and a solid understanding of major areas in contemporary philosophy. In addition to standard catalog offerings, the curriculum includes frequent seminars on current issues, such as Renewing Civil Society, The Promise and Perils of Biotechnology, Education for a Sustainable Society, and Liberty, Fraternity, Equality: Our Social-Political Culture War.

The major is excellent training for careers, including law, government service, and business. Philosophy is consistently ranked as a top major for performance on the GRE, LSAT, and GMAT exams. Green Mountain Philosophy majors are also regularly accepted into strong graduate programs in Philosophy. The communication, problem-solving and critical thinking skills that students develop are in high demand. Beyond preparation for good careers, the major attempts to enhance intellectual curiosity and to encourage a careful, balanced approach to life decisions.