Philosophy Department
The Department of Philosophy engages students with fundamental questions of existence, knowledge, and value, to encourage students to examine critically a variety of beliefs, attitudes, and social structures, and to foster creative thoughtfulness and self-reflection.
Studying philosophy teaches students to read and write critically, to analyze concepts and problems carefully, and to express solutions and arguments clearly and forcefully. Thus, studying philosophy prepares students for many different career paths: business, law, medicine, teaching, and post-graduate research in the humanities and sciences.
Philosophy majors are admitted to law school and medical school at a higher rate than any other major. Philosophy majors also outperform most other majors on the LSAT, GMAT and GRE. Their mid-career salaries are the highest in the humanities, and even higher than those of accounting, business management, and marketing majors.
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Philosophy Department
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Washington Hall
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia 24450
W&L Ethics Bowl Team Qualifies for National Competition
The team secured its place with a third-place finish at the APPE Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl regional competition in Chicago.
This neuroscience major takes advantage of W&L’s beautiful natural surroundings, including walking the back campus trails.
Lawyer and Historian Paul Lombardo to Deliver Lecture on Buck v. Priddy Court Case
The Nov. 18 lecture is open to the public and marks the centenary of the case argued in Amherst County, Virginia.
Bernstein discovered a passion for coding at W&L and has sought out every opportunity to get involved with technology on campus.
Chris Gavaler and Nathaniel Goldberg Publish Paper in the Canadian Journal of Philosophy
The professors co-authored an article that investigates the different ways comics are ordered.
Professors Chris Gavaler and Nat Goldberg to Discuss Their New Book, ‘Revising Reality’
The discussion will be held Wednesday, Oct. 2 in the Harte Center Gallery.
W&L Alumni Receive Omicron Delta Kappa Scholarships
Three Washington and Lee University graduates received scholarships from the National Leadership Honor Society to support graduate and professional study.
A philosophy class Leahy’s first semester led to a passion for thinking about different perspectives and relating to others’ experiences.
W&L Outcomes: Katie Yurechko ’24
After a summer internship with the University of Washington, Yurechko will be pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Oxford.
Chris Gavaler and Nathaniel Goldberg Collaborate to Publish Third Book Together
The W&L professors’ latest publication uses pop culture concepts to untangle real-world histories.
W&L’s Katie Yurechko ’24 Named ODK National Leader of the Year in Academics and Research
Yurechko’s award will support her post-graduate studies as the university’s first Marshall Scholar.
W&L Philosophy Professor Receives Fellowship to the National Humanities Center
Angela Sun is one of 31 fellows selected for research work at the NHC in 2024-25.