Department Features

Curriculum

Educational Objectives and Policies

Education and Research Objectives

To cultivate excellent skills of thinking, comprehension, and expression through the study of philosophies from all ages and essential philosophical problems, in line with our university’s founding spirit of philosophia or the pursuit of wisdom

Human Resource Development Objectives

To produce researchers and educators in fields such as philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, and religion, and, with a view to holistic education, to foster an autonomous capacity to apply broad, deep insights for the purposes of self-actualization and development of cohesive societies.

Diploma Policy

With an aim to foster human resources who can contribute to modern society with a deep and broad understanding of humans and the world by conducting research in philosophy and thought from the fundamentals, based on the concept of “Philosophia,” the founding spirit of Sophia, the Department of Philosophy sets standards for the skills and knowledge students should acquire before graduation as described below. Those who fulfill the graduation requirements shall be deemed to have acquired these qualities and will be awarded a diploma.

1. The ability to fully understand the details and meaning of philosophical issues associated with humans and the world, especially those pertaining to the basic values of “trueness,” “good” and “beauty,” and the ability to think independently.
2. Adequate knowledge of the history of the human pursuit of philosophical issues and the ability to continue the pursuit with self-acknowledgement and a sense of responsibility for leading the research in the future.
3. The ability to think about philosophical issues independently as well as with others and the skills to read and comprehend philosophical classics in the original text.
4. The ability to observe the philosophical issues that lie at the root of various phenomena of modern society, to explore them based on philosophical knowledge and appreciation of liberal arts, as well as philosophical thinking skills, and to persuasively deliver outcomes.
5. The ability to contribute to a world where various beings coexist, based on the philosophical knowledge, skills and attitude provided above, by living independently and “for others, with others.

Curriculum Policy

In accordance with the Diploma Policy, the Department of Philosophy constructs its curriculum as follows:

1. Foster a systematic understanding of various philosophical issues and philosophical thinking skills through “systematic courses” (Human Studies, Epistemology, Natural Theology, Metaphysics, Ethics, and Aesthetics
2. Foster knowledge and a cultural understanding of the human history of philosophical pursuit through “philosophical history courses” (Ancient History of Philosophy, Medieval History of Philosophy, Modern History of Philosophy, Contemporary History of Philosophy).
3. Foster the skills and practices to explore philosophical issues through debate and dialogue, the skills to read and understand philosophical literature and the language skills required in Seminar Courses and Literary Readings.
4. Foster the skills and knowhow to independently engage in research by systematically identifying individual philosophical interests in terms of the three Course Groups: “Philosophical Thought,” “Ethics,” and “Arts and Culture.”
5. Foster the skills and practices to independently plan and implement research and to present outcomes publicly and academically through Thesis Guidance and Thesis.

Admissions Policy

The Department of Philosophy welcomes students with the following qualities:

1. Students who bear a strong interest and eagerness to identify the various challenges faced by humans and the surrounding world and to seek a fundamental understanding of the issues guided by self-initiative, dialogue and collaboration, rather than to solve them superficially.
2. Students with a strong interest in “living for Others, with Others” by nurturing their strengths in thinking, judging and presenting through philosophy, defined as “love for wisdom and pursuit of knowledge.”
3. Students who embrace standard knowledge and appreciation of culture associated with human society, culture and history, excellent comprehension and presentation skills in Japanese, and robust English skills.

Faculty Members

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