Program Information
John Schroeder, Chair
Professor of Philosophy
240 895 4456
jwschroeder@smcm.edu
Sharon Newcomb, Office Assistant I
240 895 2159
Program Highlight
The department offers a major and minor in Philosophy and a major and minor in Religious Studies. As an active and energetic department, we are committed towards an intercultural, international and interdisciplinary understanding of the world. We teach across the traditional fields of philosophy and religious studies, and beyond the cultural divides of East and West. Departmental faculty likes to teach in a variety of venues (Nitze Program; Women, Gender and Sexuality; Environmental Studies; Asian Studies; African and African Diaspora Studies), to take students on study tours (Greece, Germany/Poland, India, Thailand, and, in the future, England and Israel), and to bring questions of global relevance to the campus communities through scheduling events with renowned speakers and activists.
The Philosophy Club
The revolution is here...
Truth springs from arguments amongst friends.
-David Hume
Who are we?
We are a bomb shelter against the assault on intellectualism that is the St. Mary's College community; the last bastion of hope in a world that has lost reverence for elitism.
We are the believers in the folly of science and the stupidity of the common man.
We are the light that breaks your mind as it drags you out of the cave.
We are Neo in the matrix.
No, seriously. Who are we?
The Philosophy Club provides the opportunity for students to investigate a variety of different topics through a variety of different venues. The purpose of the club is to provide an informal way for students to present and discuss philosophical or ethical dilemmas and ideas. The Club meets every Wednesday evening to discuss and debate issues like fatalism, friendship, and pornography. These topics are typically presented by a short explanation, a student's paper, an article or a movie. The club often co-sponsors presentations by guest speakers such as Sybol Cook, Alix Olsen, and Jerry Miller. They will occasionally take trips to see other speakers or attend conferences like the American Philosophical Association's (APA) Eastern Division Conference. In addition to meetings, programs, and trips, the club publishes Reflections, a student-run journal that showcases philosophical essays, poems, and art work from members of the college community. A number of members have also been seen in the now trendy Hegel my Nagel sweatshirts, introduced by the club in January 2004.
Are we friendly?
I was worried when I first came to philosophy club, since I thought everyone would be intimidating philosophy majors who'd yell at me for not understanding everything...
-Amaly Snowdon
Note: Amaly was not invited back, as she did not understand everything.
Who do I contact?
President: Lisa Whittington
Vice President: Nate Kent
Treasurer: Lex Cosenze
Secretary: Andy Horne
