The Philosophy Department

Faculty:

Francis (Rusty) Conroy

Anne Miller

What is life all about? How do we distinguish what is important from what is unimportant? Is there a "deeper reality"? Are humans capable of grasping ultimate truths?

Students may find that there is something missing from all the other courses in their educational careers: no where are questions like these addressed! This is where philosophy fits in. The philosophy department offers courses and a major which focus on such questions. For some students, the discovery of such classes can become a turning point in their lives.

Philosophy and Its Branches

Philosophy, from the Greek philo (love) and sophia (wisdom), gives students a chance to use their highest human capacity -- thinking -- to consider the most fundamental questions about life and the world.

In the branch called metaphysics, we think about questions like is the world merely mechanical or physical? does our existence serve any purpose? and is each of us (at bottom) alone or part of a larger whole?

In the branch that includes ethics, aesthetics, and political philosophy, we think about the possible sources and legitimacy of evaluations concerning what is "good" or "evil," what is "beautiful" or "ugly," and what is "just" or "unjust."

In the branch called epistemology, we try to think about our own thinking. We consider if, how, and to what degree we can get in touch with "reality" or "truth" as opposed to mere "appearance" or "opinion." And we consider whether we would do better to think with our rational intellect or with our "whole being" (including "passions").

Courses

The Burlington County College philosophy department takes as its starting point that philosophy is both at the core of many centuries of Western tradition, and is today a lively and growing field. "Philosophy now" is increasingly global, inclusive of the feminine, and interdisciplinary. Its concerns intertwine today with ecology, biology, physics and healthcare; with literature, film and religion; and with politics, economics and sociology. To reflect this, BCC offers a variety of courses (for course syllabi, go to the professor’s webpage and then to syllabi):
 

• Introduction to Philosophy (PHI 101), raising main issues concerning reality, goodness, truth and the meaning of life, and introducing readings from some of the the greatest philosophers, like Plato, Descartes, and the existentialists. Prof. Conroy, Prof. Miller, staff.
• Logic (PHI 105), providing training in the rules of clear, logical thinking as developed by Western philosophers from Aristotle to the present. Staff.
• Philosophy East-West (PHI 112), broadening the pursuits of Introduction to Philosophy to include Taoist, Confucian and Buddhist approaches to life and death. Prof. Conroy.
• Ethics (PHI 205), exploring the great issues concerning what is morally right, what is a good person, and what is just, including application to contemporary fields such as biotechnology and ecology. Prof. Miller.
• History of Philosophy (PHI 210), providing the whole sweep of Western thought, who the greatest thinkers were, and how great ideas interrelated with history to form an ongoing dialogue. Prof. Miller.
• Comparative Religion (REL 205), comparing the spiritual quest for truth in Christianity, Judaism and Islam with the quest in Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and the primal religions. Prof. Conroy, staff.
• Philosophy in Literature and Film (PHI 261), our newest course, probing philosophical isses within the full-life settings provided by novels, short stories and films. Prof. Conroy.

The Faculty

The philosophy department has two full-time faculty and several adjunct instructors. The full-time professors are Francis (Rusty) Conroy and Anne Miller.

Dr. Conroy holds a BA in philosophy from Haverford College, an MA in philosophy from Yale University, and a PhD in philosophy and sociology (with an emphasis on East Asia) from the Union Institute. He has been a post-doctoral fellow at Princeton University and at the East-West Center (Honolulu). He also teaches in the sociology department. Dr. Conroy’s special interests are Eastern philosophy and religion, existentialism, Marxism, philosophy in literature, and ecological thought.

Prof. Miller holds a BA in philosophy from Rosemont College and an MA in philosophy from Boston University. Her special interests are ethics, philosophy of the person, history of Western philosophy, philosophy of religion, and literature. She has also taught English and literature.