About

Western’s Department of Philosophy aims to provide students with a broad general education in philosophy, while also being home to many faculty members and students who work in specialized areas. We are a department where the history of philosophy is held in high regard. At the same time, we maintain strong ties with the Departments of Women’s Studies and Feminist Research, Biology, Economics, Physics and Astronomy, Political Science, Psychology, and Mathematics; with the Faculties of Law and Medicine; with the Brain and Mind Institute at Western and with the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo.

A generous donation from Joseph Rotman led to the creation of the Rotman Institute of Philosophy in 2008. The Rotman Institute brings philosophers and scientists together to focus on theoretical issues and their practical and ethical implications in various areas of science, from cosmology to conservation ecology, evolutionary biology, and neuroscience. 

Our department is also home to the Centre for Digital Philosophy, which aims to advance philosophical research and related fields through technology. The Centre maintains and develops a range of online services that are used widely by philosophers around the globe, including PhilPapers, PhilPeople, PhilEvents, and PhilJobs.

We offer undergraduate education. Whether you’re working towards a BA in philosophy or just taking a course or two with us, we undertake to provide excellent instruction in philosophy. We offer courses in ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, and logic, as well as more specialized courses in philosophy of science, feminism, philosophy of mind and language, and applied ethics, to name a few. Whatever your interests, we are committed to developing and honing your skills as a reader, writer, analyst, and thinker.  

We also offer graduate education in philosophy, leading to the MA and the PhD. We strive to maintain an atmosphere of cooperation and collegiality in which all students receive the individual attention they need to thrive.

Please have a look at our course offerings. We hope you will join us!


180x200-Carolyn.pngCarolyn McLeod,
Department Chair