Philosophy and Religious Studies

Faculty

Sarah Kenehan, Ph.D., Chairperson

Daniel Cosacchi, Ph.D.

Phil Jenkins, Ph.D.

Melinda Krokus, Ph.D.

Aaron Simmons, Ph.D.

*Sister John Michele Southwick, IHM, M.A.

Sister Mary Ann Zimmer, N.D., Ph.D.

*Part-time

General Program Overview

The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies serves as the intellectual cornerstone of Marywood’s Mission and Core Values. Each discipline approaches life’s ultimate questions using its own disciplinary methods and sources. The department is dedicated to fostering thoughtful, reflective, and just habits of mind in students. Both areas of study offer introductory courses and diverse arrays of elective options that support the Core Requirements for all Marywood Bachelor’s degrees. In addition, students can pursue the BA in Religious Studies or the BA in Philosophy.

Philosophy

Philosophy, using the tools of logically rigorous and honest inquiry, addresses contemporary and age-old questions such as: What is the nature of reality? What is knowledge, and how do I know what I think I know? What are the arguments for and against the existence of God? How do I make ethically sound decisions? What responsibilities do we have to future generations? What constitutes a morally worthwhile life? Can morality be challenged? Does art imitate life or does life imitate art? Does animal suffering matter less than human suffering? Could there be minds without bodies? Can a computer be conscious?

The Department’s greatest strength is our faculty, all of whom have advanced degrees, are dedicated to being excellent teachers and mentors to our students, and model a life of joyful service to others. We expect students to engage with assignments that are aimed at developing their reading, writing, thinking, and speaking skills, so that they may serve as innovators and leaders in their civic lives as well as in their chosen careers. We celebrate diversity, personal responsibility, and civility, and we strive to produce graduates with a desire for lifelong learning in their communities and on the global stage

Religious Studies

Religious Studies uses academic methods to critically explore the religious dimension of life, addressing questions such as: What are the worldviews, practices and ethical ideals of the world’s religions? How do religious understandings of the nature of reality and knowledge affect a person’s action in the world? How do race, gender, and class help us understand historical and contemporary embodiments of religion? What are the skills needed for interfaith dialogue, including dialogue with various forms of non-belief? Because of Marywood’s religious affiliation, special attention is given to the academic understanding of the Catholic tradition’s historical and contemporary approaches to these questions. Questions such as these and many more are addressed in an atmosphere of open and respectful dialogue in Religious Studies courses.

Philosophy Goals

In the light of the Socratic dictum, “The unexamined life is not worth living,” philosophy faculty members seek to engage today’s student in authentic wonder about the ultimate questions that people can raise concerning the truth about the real, the good, and the beautiful.

Philosophical reflection on the ultimate questions should lead to reasoned foundations conducive to support for human values; to an awareness of a duty to work for justice, compassion, and peace; and to the integrated and rich human life worth living, thus enabling students to be more responsible for the interdependent world in which they find themselves.

Philosophy Objectives

By active participation in class discussions and by excellence evidenced in examinations and term papers, students will be expected to demonstrate:

an understanding of a range of philosophers and philosophical problems;
the ability to explain and critically analyze philosophical positions;
skill in constructing and evaluating argumentation;
the ability to give a reasoned case in support of one’s views;
clear and coherent expression of philosophical ideas;
tolerance and respect for diverse viewpoints.

Core Requirements in Philosophy for All Students

Two courses in philosophy are required of all undergraduate students. The first, Introduction to Philosophy, PHIL 113 or H113, is prerequisite to all other philosophy courses. The second can be any course the department offers. The aims of these courses are consistent with many of the goals and objectives of Marywood’s Core Curriculum.

To develop fully as persons, we must critically examine those questions and issues that continue to challenge us as we seek to discover a meaningful and substantive life. Introduction to Philosophy addresses many of the major questions involved in our search for the meaning of life. Similarly, courses on ethics, politics, metaphysics, and theories of knowledge, for example, focus our attention on the complex nature of human existence and thereby enable us to examine life’s experiences more thoughtfully.

Religious Studies Goals

A sound concept of liberal arts education calls for the academic study of religion. In step with Marywood’s Catholic affiliation, the program offerings include the scholarly investigation of the Catholic theological tradition alongside a broad selection of courses in world religions and their spiritualities. Our department prepares our students to live responsibly in an interdependent world by encouraging and developing their critical and appreciative understanding of the fundamental human search for meaning as it is found in the world’s religious traditions.

The curricular objectives of the department are to enable students to:

recognize the multiple dimensions of religion – from ritual, material, mythic, and experiential dimensions to the institutional, ethical, and doctrinal;
analyze contemporary manifestations of religion with the theoretical and methodological tools of religious studies and theology;
identify the ultimate questions that have engaged human beings for millennia and engage both critically and contemplatively with a variety of responses;
evaluate their own religious positions and choices in a global religious context;
develop a basis for making ethical decisions that promote justice, peace, and compassion;
articulate their viewpoints with clarity, accuracy, and respect.

The academic study of religion can be approached in two ways. First, the academic discipline of theology examines the way that a religious tradition explains and understands its beliefs using a variety of academic methods and tools. Second, the discipline of religious studies investigates religion as an aspect of experience that can be explored through a variety of disciplines. Following these divisions, the department offers two tracks to a major; these focus on Catholic theology or Religious Studies.

Religious Studies Core Requirements — All Students

Two courses are required in order to fulfill the Religious Studies requirement as stated in Category II of the Liberal Arts Core. They are RST 112 Modern Belief and one course above the 100 level. RST 112 is a prerequisite to all other religious studies courses.