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Philosophy Scope and Objectives

In the last survey conducted by the Conference Board of the Associated Research Councils, UCLA's Philosophy Department was judged among the six best in the nation in terms of the quality of its faculty. It offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts and Ph.D. degrees.

"Philosopher," translated from the Greek, literally means "lover of wisdom." The term has come to mean someone who seeks knowledge, enlightenment, and truth. The undergraduate program is not directed at career objectives (although it is traditionally good preparation for law, theology, and graduate work in philosophy). Philosophy is taught to undergraduates primarily as a contribution to their liberal education. All of the lower and most of the upper division course offerings should be of interest and useful to students who are reflective about their beliefs or who wish to become so. It also provides the occasion to ponder the foundations of almost any other subject to which they are exposed -- whether history, religion, government, law, or science.

The principal goal of the graduate program is to produce philosophers of high quality, thinkers informed by the great historical traditions of Western philosophers who can apply the methods of philosophical analysis to a broad range of current philosophical problems. Since all its graduate students hope to teach at the college or university level, the department is also committed to training clear, able, and stimulating teachers.