Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

at Goucher College

William James said philosophy is “the habit of always seeing an alternative.” Goucher wants students to see alternatives for a better world. 

William James said philosophy is “the habit of always seeing an alternative.” By creating alternatives, philosophy holds out the promise of shaping a better world. This lies at the heart of our mission. We teach students to reflect on the meaning and significance of their own experiences by posing questions they may not yet have the means to answer. In fact, the work of philosophy is not so much to produce definitive answers as it is to question given answers, to interrogate our basic assumptions and habits of thought. The Philosophy Program at Goucher College cultivates this critical standpoint by emphasizing both the history of philosophy and the practice of philosophizing.