Hons. Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy McMaster University Faculty of Humanities

Philosophy is used to clarify and interpret important concepts such as truth, God, mortality, beauty, knowledge, and reality. These concepts play an important role in our self-understanding and our interpretation of the world.

When you study philosophy, you’ll learn about the kind of questions that philosophers ask, and about the many different areas that interest them. These include the theory of knowledge (how we know, and what we know), metaphysics (which considers the understanding of the fundamental nature of things such as the self, the mind, time and space) ethics (the philosophical study of morality), and many others.

Examination of these questions has led philosophers into complicated theories because reason needs them. Studying these questions and theories will help you organize your thinking, improve your communication skills, and teach you to use arguments and valid reasoning to arrive at any conclusion.

Careers for majors in Philosophy

Law

Politics

Education

Public policy

Diplomatic service

Health sciences

Human rights

Bioethicist

Teacher

Policy analyst

Business consultant

Human rights advocate

Researcher

Journalist

Publisher/editor

Various positions in government

NGOs

Advocacy groups