Welcome to Philosophy

Historicism and Empathy; or, Can We Learn Something from a Forgotten Orientalist?

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Philosophy’s teaching, scholarship, and outreach programs promote a critical understanding of the responsibilities of citizens to participate in self-governance. We are committed to providing equitable access to education, with the recognition that education is essential for social progress and transformation.

The scholarship of its faculty, in areas such as biomedical ethics, philosophy of science, critical theory, feminist studies, environmental studies, aesthetics, and cultural and religious studies, is focused upon active engagement with issues of relevance and significance to contemporary life.

These issues include social justice, the environment, medical ethics, and contemplative studies, with a particular emphasis upon the needs of future generations and ecological sustainability.

Courses offered by Philosophy reflect this orientation, and students are encouraged to work on issues and topics of relevance to their lives and communities. We celebrate both our diversity and common humanity.

Philosophy News!

Digging in the Dirt (is good for little girls too!) - Apr 10th, 2012

Sharyn Clough's recent paper, Gender and the Hygiene Hypothesis, continues to get media attention around the world. Yesterday, Professor Clough was featured on The Richard Brown Show (CKOM 650 - Saskatoon, Canada) where she explained why parents who let their children play in dirt tend to have healthier kids!

You can listen to the entire podcast here.

This follows a flurry of media attention since the paper was published in the peer-reviewed journal Social Science and Medicine (Volume 72, Issue 4, February 2011, Pages 486-493) including this wonderful piece from National Public Radio entitled, "Why Keeping Little Girls Squeaky Clean Could Make Them Sick."

Professor Clough specializes in the philosophy of science and epistemology more generally, with a focus on the intersection between these areas and feminist theory. You can learn more about her and her research here.

Dr. Allen Thompson featured in Terra Magazine - Mar 9th, 2012

"In the face of what we have unintentionally done to Earth's ecology, who shall we become?"
- Allen Thompson, OSU philosopher

Congratulations to SHPR Professor, Dr. Allen Thompson, who was featured in this months Terra Magazine!

You can read his full article at: http://oregonstate.edu/terra/2012/02/learning-to-think-like-a-planet/

Produced by the Division of University Relations and Marketing at Oregon State University, Terra connects you with the latest findings in energy, Earth systems, natural resources, health, the economy, the arts and the social sciences.

Allen Thompson is also the do-editor of "Ethical Adaption to Climate Change," which is being released this Spring by MIT Press.