Philosophy is the study of the most basic questions of human existence, such as what a person is, how far our freedom extends, how matter and spirit come together in human nature, where the moral law comes from, how the mind knows reality, and how God can be known through reason and experience. In philosophy we examine these questions by probing human experience, by rational analysis, and also by studying closely the tradition of Western philosophy. Although philosophy is in many ways close to Christian theology, giving much to it and receiving much from it, philosophy is an entirely distinct and in some ways more fundamental discipline. In studying philosophy one also develops habits of critical thought; one develops powers of articulating, distinguishing, and arguing. The philosophy courses are, therefore, not just for future teachers of the subject, but for everyone who agrees with Socrates that “the unexamined life is not worth living.”

No one can say senior political science major Alexei Woltornist doesn’t come by his conservative political philosophy honestly.The grandson of not one, but two Russian immigrants who separately fled the…
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Dr. Mark K. Spencer ’07, MA ’08, didn’t just leave Franciscan University of Steubenville with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and theology and a master’s degree in philosophy. He also…
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As a Franciscan University Graduate, a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army, and a worldwide traveler, Andrew Matwijec is living out the goals he set for himself early in life.Andrew…
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The struggle between an emerging culture of death and the culture of life has intensified in the last few decades. Bio-medical technological breakthroughs have made possible what was previously only theoretical, forcing us to confront in more depth questions about human life and dignity.
Interviews with faculty at Franciscan University of Steubenville about their recent publications. Philosophy professors Brandon Dahm and Robert McNamara and psychology professor Matthew Breuninger host.