Philosophy at Bates
Philosophy is the careful, in-depth study of humanity’s most basic ideas, presuppositions, and beliefs.
With the goal of first understanding who we are, how the world is, and how we conceive the world, philosophy seeks to then challenge those conceptions and why we hold them. Courses within this major welcome and celebrate a diversity of opinions, with students encouraged to examine why they hold certain views and learn to think critically about these views. Students leave the major with a new lens through which to view our world and the people in it.
Contact Us
Jeanne Beliveau – Academic Administrative Assistant
7 Andrews Road
Hedge Hall
Phone: 207-786-8204
jbelive2@bates.edu
What You Will Learn
To develop a sense of the intrinsic value of philosophical reflection and contemplation
How to use reason to analyze, reconstruct, and evaluate claims and arguments
How to read and respond critically to philosophical arguments, including situating written material in the appropriate context
How to develop an individual voice in both writing and speech
How to craft well-reasoned, creative arguments that can be articulated clearly and defended soundly
To be able to connect philosophical knowledge to other fields and to non-philosophical topics
Life After Bates
Philosophy majors at Bates have gone on to successful careers that require finely tuned critical thinking skills and the ability to craft complex arguments. These fields vary from science to government to economics. In addition, graduates have continued their education at medical school, law school, or other graduate schools, where their strong foundation in philosophy gives them a much-needed perspective on our world.
94%
of 2020-2024 Bates graduates are employed and/or attending graduate school — settled into their next opportunity within 6 months of graduation.
Selected Places of Employment/Service
- Barclays Investment Bank
- Wells Fargo
- Sullivan & Cromwell
- McLean Hospital
- Toyota Financial Services
- Peace Corps
- Synopsys Inc.
- Milken Institute
- Institute for Justice
- Darling Consulting Group
Selected Graduate Schools
- Harvard Medical School
- University of Oxford
- Harvard University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Georgetown University
- King’s College London
- Columbia University
- New England College of Optometry
- University of Utah College of Law
- CUNY Graduate Center
Why study Philosophy at Bates?
The Philosophy department at Bates cultivates an atmosphere that is inclusive and makes room for historically underrepresented perspectives. Courses emphasize both the history of philosophical thought and the striking innovations, insights, and relevance of contemporary philosophy. The curriculum goes beyond the historical lineage of philosophy, which can be traced back through Europe and Ancient Greece, to highlight marginalized voices and approaches that help us understand humans across all identities. Many courses focus on non-Western approaches to philosophy, taking into account how oppression has influenced and determined the nature of philosophical questions.