Tammy Nyden, Associate Professor of Philosophy, teaches a class in Steiner Hall

Philosophy

Question everything and think critically.

To study philosophy is to ask the questions that thinking human beings everywhere have asked, in one way or another: Who am I? What can I know? What should I do? What can I hope? Though it does not fall upon any generation to answer these questions once and for all, a generation that refuses to confront them refuses to engage the work of its time. Pluralistic and historically oriented, the philosophy program at Grinnell is dedicated to open inquiry into these big questions and their meaning for today.

Why Study Philosophy

  • Students participating in the classroom.

    Big Questions

    Discover yourself and your place in the world.

    As a student of philosophy, you’ll ponder the questions that thinking human beings everywhere have always asked, in one way or another: Who am I? What can I know? What should I do? What can I hope for? Pluralistic and historically oriented, the philosophy program at Grinnell is dedicated to helping you pursue open inquiry into these big questions and their meaning for people today.

  • Professor Nyden demonstrates early scientific instruments

    Interdisciplinary Curriculum

    A varied program that supports all your academic efforts.

    You’ll confront, in a disciplined and constructive way, fundamental questions and problems, both theoretical and practical, about yourself and your relationship to the world. You’ll discover that the study of philosophy enriches your thinking, imagination, understanding, and experience. You’ll find yourself reflecting upon things you formerly took for granted — and you’ll learn to apply these philosophical perspectives to issues in your other courses.

  • Professor Fennell in classroom

    Individualized Program

    Supplement your studies with your own interest areas.

    As a student in the philosophy department, you’ll be invited to construct an individualized program that pursues your philosophical interests and helps you make connections to your studies in other disciplines. You will also be encouraged to study a foreign language to supplement your study of philosophy. You’ll find this approach to be a valuable contribution to your academic pursuits and to almost any career.

Alumni Spotlight

Jack Marchesi '20

Spot the Gaps and Fill Them In

Philosophy major Jack Marchesi ’20 appreciates how philosophy courses consistently defy his expectations. “I always leave with more questions than I had before the course began.”

Meet Jack
Burling Library at night, windows lit

At the Intersection of Philosophy and Political Science

Max Fenton ’19, a philosophy and political science double major, was drawn to Grinnell as a good base for graduate school and for its “reputation as a place in which knowledge was acquired for its own sake.”

Meet Max
Jin Chang

Intrigued by the Challenge of Intro to Philosophy

Jin Chang ’18, marketing associate at a Silicon Valley tech company, thought he was going to major in math or science when he came to Grinnell. Then, his tutorial adviser encouraged him to take a humanities class his first semester. He chose Introduction to Philosophy. 

Meet Jin
Johanna Meehan

College Mourns Professor Johanna Meehan

Prof. Meehan was loved not only by her colleagues and students but also by her invaluable administrative assistants, friends in Grinnell, and scholars around the country who remember her encouragement and support of their scholarly work through the years.

Read more about Professor Meehan:

Featured Courses

Students in a classroom

The Good, the Beautiful, the Brain

The Grinnell philosophy course titled The Good, The Beautiful, The Brain explores the philosophy of the values that shape your life. The central question is “What is the good life?”
A student listens thoughtfully in a philosophy class

Philosophy for Life

Although we may not be aware of it, we do philosophy every day, says Assistant Professor of Philosophy Jennifer Dobe. Dobe teaches Philosophy for Life (PHI 121) and says that we, as humans, use philosophy in our daily lives but rarely think about it.
About a dozen students and instructor listen to another student presenting informally in their classroom

Students Learn Strategies and Tactics for Making a Difference

You care about the world and you want to make a difference. Can you do that in a class?

Philosophy Career Outcomes

First Destinations

  • 46% Employment
  • 31% Graduate School
  • 9% Post-Graduate Service
  • 0% Fellowships
  • 0% Continuing Education
  • 14% Other

Employment

100%
Positions related to Career Goals

Positions Related to Career Goals

This graph illustrates the extent to which our graduates' first job is aligned with their career goals. It's one thing to find a job; it's an entirely different thing to land the job you want!

Employer

  • AM950
  • Civic Works
  • Joint Committee on Administrative Rules
  • Oakland Unified School District

Graduate Schools

75%
75% Accepted to 1st- or 2nd- choice programs

Graduate School Acceptance Info

Of those who applied to and were accepted to at least one program, this chart illustrates the percentage of admitted students who were accepted to either their first or second choice program and institution.

Institutions

  • DePaul University
  • Stanford University
  • University of Chicago
  • University of Memphis
Explore More Graduate Outcomes

Department Chair

Tammy Nyden

Contact Information

Phone
641-269-3157

Humanities & Social Studies Center
1226 Park St
Grinnell, IA 50112
United States

We use cookies to enable essential services and functionality on our site, enhance your user experience, provide better service through personalized content, collect data on how visitors interact with our site, and enable advertising services.

To accept the use of cookies and continue on to the site, click "I Agree." For more information about our use of cookies and how to opt out, please refer to our website privacy policy.