A student reading

Philosophy

B.A.

Philosophy challenges students to move beyond uncritical patterns of thought, to recognize problems, and to exchange a more naive world view for a more considered and justifiable one. In doing so, students learn to think in ways that are simultaneously both disciplined and imaginative.

Mark Moller

Mark Moller , Dean of Transfer Students, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Chair of…

Juneda Marhevka

Juneda Marhevka , Academic Administrative Assistant

Students working at laptop

Highlights

Titus-Hepp Lecture Series

Philosophy Coffees

Student Journal: Episteme

Six months after graduation, 89% of Philosophy Department graduates were employed, in graduate school, or completing post-graduate service.

Learn more about Philosophy

Spotlights

Sam Cowling

5 questions with Philosophy’s Sam Cowling

Cowling discusses his love of comics, how they fit into philosophy, and what students should expect in his classes.

Molly Johnson ’05

Denison Magazine

No gavel required

Molly Johnson’s aim as judge: ‘leave the world a better place than I found it’

Steve Vogel

Denison Magazine

The Office: Steve Vogel

Knapp 205: The classic office of Steve Vogel, Professor & Maria Theresa Barney Chair of Philosophy

Aayush Nema '21

Academics, mentorship, & internship solidify career choice

Academics, mentorship and an internship in Columbus gave international citizen Aayush Nema '21 the key to his future course as an economic researcher.

Rob Moore '12

Q&A with Rob Moore '12, principal at Scioto Analysis

Philosophy major Rob Moore '12 is the principal for Scioto Analysis, a public policy analysis firm based in Columbus, Ohio.

Henry DeCamp '19

How We Learn

Life Wisdom From On and Off the Field

At Denison, learning happens in and out of the classroom. Henry DeCamp '19 shares some of his hard-won life philosophy.

Professor John McHugh, Benjamin Keefer '19 and Audrey Kirkley '20

How We Learn

The Meaning of Life?

Two summer scholar researchers take ten weeks to dive into one of the big questions in life: What is morality?

Mishti Mitra ’20

Where We Go

Sharing The Light

Even as a young girl, Mishti Mitra ’20 was able to imagine herself in another person’s circumstances.

Marxstatue

How We Learn

The 'spectre' of Marxism

Marx's wide influence across disciplines was celebrated during a two-day event.

museum exhibit

How We Learn

Searching for the right question

A powerful museum exhibit was the impetus of a discussion on tragedy and more.

Steve Vogel

How We Learn

Are shopping malls part of nature?

For DU Professor Steve Vogel the environment has to include the man-made world.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy Dr. John McHugh

How We Learn

John McHugh wins DCGA Award

Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy Dr. John McHugh was the first recipient of the DCGA Faculty Member of the Year Award in May 2013.

Mark Moller, pictured in his office

How We Learn

This is Denison: Mark Moller

A conversation with Mark Moller, dean of first-year students, philosophy professor and, yes, a Winnie the Pooh fan.

Brazil: Five Centuries of Change

Where We Go

Thomas E. Skidmore '54

Harvard offered Thomas Skidmore '54 a post-doctoral fellowship in 1961 to change his history specialty to Modern Latin America.

What's Happening

Departmental Fellows

Department Fellows 2025-2026

Philosophy Fellows exemplify philosophical ability and a commitment to the study of philosophy as an academic discipline.

Visiting Artists

A dose of medicine in Sextus Empiricus’ philosophy

In this Titus-Hepp Lecture, Johns Hopkins philosophy professor Richard Bett explored the link between skepticism and medicine.

John McHugh photo

In the News

Counteract dogmatism by developing curiosity, says Denison professor

John McHugh says we should foster “the right kind of attitude toward intellectual inquiry in the first place ... curiosity.”

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