Department ofPhilosophy
Introduction
The department of philosophy was established in 1954, the year Keimyung University was founded. Following the spirit of our university, the department continually strives to "open the light to the world" by guiding our students to direct their thinking toward Truth and their actions toward Goodness and Wisdom. Through critical engagement with the philosophical knowledge of the past and present of the Eastern and Western traditions, we aim to create an environment in which the search for wisdom can flourish. The department specializes in research and teaching in such diverse areas as Ancient Western Philosophy, Ancient Eastern Philosophy, Modern Western Philosophy, Modern Eastern Philosophy, Contemporary Western Philosophy.
For the philosophy students, the department is ready to provide a high quality program which concentrates on the main philosophical problems and the important philosophical classics. We encourage students to develop critical thinking skills as well as creative writing skills in dealing with various philosophical problems and arguments.
For those who want to continue their study at the Graduate level, the department provides them with specialized programs in Western and Eastern Philosophy. In addition to the formal education in the Philosophy department, students are able to benefit from the Thursday Philosophy Colloquium which is famous for its longtime service for ordinary citizens. Students’ extra-curricular activities also include involvement in various activities in the Philosophy Department Students Association.
What Is Philosophy?
Philosophy is a discipline that requires us to think deeply about the fundamental problems of the world and human life. As we live in this world, we tend to adopt different beliefs. Such beliefs differ from individual to individual, from society to society, and change over time. While some of them change according to circumstances, others do not. And sometimes we take these unchanging beliefs to be true without any serious consideration. In fact, in ordinary life, we take many of our beliefs for granted. The primary task of philosophy is to critically examine these natural beliefs and determine whether they are really true. To give just a few examples: philosophy examines whether God exists; whether matter and mind are fundamentally different; whether our thinking can grasp reality or not; whether morality is objective or subjective; whether logical truth arises from linguistic conventions; whether beauty is a matter of taste.
Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Logic, Aesthetics are the names of the fields of philosophy that deal with such investigations. Of course, philosophy also investigates many other problems related to society, history, politics, science, culture, language, the meaning of life, etc. Social Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of History, Philosophy of Religion are such fields of philosophy. Rationalism, Empiricism, Idealism, Postmodernism, Pragmatism, Analytical Philosophy, Buddhist Philosophy, Taoism, Neo-Confucianism are important traditions from which these philosophical questions are examined.
Historically, philosophical research has been conducted from the different perspectives of East and West, Ancient and Modern. Thus, philosophers explore areas such as Ancient Greek Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, Ancient Chinese Philosophy, Modern Chinese Philosophy, Modern European Philosophy, German Idealism, Contemporary French Philosophy, Indian philosophy, Anglo-American philosophy, Islamic Philosophy, Latin American Philosophy, etc.
Because philosophy is a fundamental inquiry into the field of human knowledge, the questions it deals with are more general than those of other disciplines such as linguistics, sociology, psychology, history, biology, anthropology, etc. Philosophy is not concerned with specific branches of human knowledge. As a general and special field of knowledge, it is different from natural sciences such as physics or from formal sciences such as mathematics. Unlike natural science, it does not rely on experiments, and unlike mathematics, it does not have formal methods of proof. In this, the method of philosophy is unique. For it relies solely on asking questions, arguing for or against certain ideas and beliefs, by investigating how our concepts work.
In this way, philosophy helps us see things clearly, understand what others believe, and ultimately state our own views as clearly as possible. By using the great philosophers and the great ideas of the past as inspiration, we are able to think through our ideas, connect them, confront alternative views, and understand why we believe what we believe. This is Doing philosophy and perhaps the best way to become a wise person.
Educational Objectives
The department of philosophy was established in 1954, the year Keimyung University was founded. Following the spirit of our university, the department continually strives to "open the light to the world" by guiding our students to direct their thinking toward Truth and their actions toward Goodness and Wisdom. Through critical engagement with the philosophical knowledge of the past and present of the Eastern and Western traditions, we aim to create an environment in which the search for wisdom can flourish. The department specializes in research and teaching in such diverse areas as Ancient Western Philosophy, Ancient Eastern Philosophy, Modern Western Philosophy, Modern Eastern Philosophy, Contemporary Western Philosophy.
For the philosophy students, the department is ready to provide a high quality program which concentrates on the main philosophical problems and the important philosophical classics. We encourage students to develop critical thinking skills as well as creative writing skills in dealing with various philosophical problems and arguments.
For those who want to continue their study at the Graduate level, the department provides them with specialized programs in Western and Eastern Philosophy. In addition to the formal education in the Philosophy department, students are able to benefit from the Thursday Philosophy Colloquium which is famous for its longtime service for ordinary citizens. Students’ extra-curricular activities also include involvement in various activities in the Philosophy Department Students Association.
What Is Philosophy?
Philosophy is a discipline that requires us to think deeply about the fundamental problems of the world and human life. As we live in this world, we tend to adopt different beliefs. Such beliefs differ from individual to individual, from society to society, and change over time. While some of them change according to circumstances, others do not. And sometimes we take these unchanging beliefs to be true without any serious consideration. In fact, in ordinary life, we take many of our beliefs for granted. The primary task of philosophy is to critically examine these natural beliefs and determine whether they are really true. To give just a few examples: philosophy examines whether God exists; whether matter and mind are fundamentally different; whether our thinking can grasp reality or not; whether morality is objective or subjective; whether logical truth arises from linguistic conventions; whether beauty is a matter of taste.
Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Logic, Aesthetics are the names of the fields of philosophy that deal with such investigations. Of course, philosophy also investigates many other problems related to society, history, politics, science, culture, language, the meaning of life, etc. Social Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Language, Philosophy of History, Philosophy of Religion are such fields of philosophy. Rationalism, Empiricism, Idealism, Postmodernism, Pragmatism, Analytical Philosophy, Buddhist Philosophy, Taoism, Neo-Confucianism are important traditions from which these philosophical questions are examined.
Historically, philosophical research has been conducted from the different perspectives of East and West, Ancient and Modern. Thus, philosophers explore areas such as Ancient Greek Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, Ancient Chinese Philosophy, Modern Chinese Philosophy, Modern European Philosophy, German Idealism, Contemporary French Philosophy, Indian philosophy, Anglo-American philosophy, Islamic Philosophy, Latin American Philosophy, etc.
Because philosophy is a fundamental inquiry into the field of human knowledge, the questions it deals with are more general than those of other disciplines such as linguistics, sociology, psychology, history, biology, anthropology, etc. Philosophy is not concerned with specific branches of human knowledge. As a general and special field of knowledge, it is different from natural sciences such as physics or from formal sciences such as mathematics. Unlike natural science, it does not rely on experiments, and unlike mathematics, it does not have formal methods of proof. In this, the method of philosophy is unique. For it relies solely on asking questions, arguing for or against certain ideas and beliefs, by investigating how our concepts work.
In this way, philosophy helps us see things clearly, understand what others believe, and ultimately state our own views as clearly as possible. By using the great philosophers and the great ideas of the past as inspiration, we are able to think through our ideas, connect them, confront alternative views, and understand why we believe what we believe. This is Doing philosophy and perhaps the best way to become a wise person.
Educational Objectives
- Undergraduate Course
- Improving the ability to think philosophically
- To develop the ability to think critically about philosophical problems
- Analysing the classics of philosophy
- To develop the ability to analyze and evaluate philosophical texts
- Improving the ability of writing and debating
- To develop the ability to express clearly what one thinks
- Improving the ability to think philosophically
- Graduate Course
- Promote professional skills in philosophy
- To develop professionalism in philosophical research
- To participate in seminars, including the Thursday Philosophy Colloquium
- Direct the studies of students, including the completion of dissertations and interdisciplinary research
- To develop the ability to conduct academic research
- Promote professional skills in philosophy