Saving Philosophy at the University of Detroit Mercy
132 Comments
K
Katherine Pinkey (2015)
11 years ago
The 2 philosophy classes I have taken (Intro to Philosophy with Prof. Renaud and Logic with Prof. Koukal) are among my favorite class experiences at UDM. They have been very helpful for critical thinking skills, which I can also use in other disciplines. Philosophy has also helped shape how I view the world even outside of class. I wouldn't have taken either of these classes if they weren't a part of the core requirement! I think exposure to philosophy is important to stay in the core curriculum.
R
Rosalyn Miller
11 years ago
Philosophy is an important part of a well rounded education.
J
Josh LaFave
11 years ago
People need to be able to think critcally and ask questions to obtain knowledge. Please keep Philosophy!
C
Cameron Roberts
11 years ago
May 2015
B
Brian Moore (2014)
11 years ago
While I would actually support the removal of Philosophy or Ethics from the core curriculum (as these classes were essentially useless to me), I greatly enjoyed both my Logic and Phenomenology courses with Dr. Koukal and think it would be a shame to see these go. If keeping these classes necessititates keeping other philosophy class exposure, then I support this measure.
M
Molly Laird
11 years ago
2018.
N
Noor Abraham
11 years ago
Philosophy has allowed me to look at things in a different perspective, and i hope to continue to take more philosophy courses at UDM!
S
Sabina Kurtovic
11 years ago
I think it is very important students take at least an introduction to philosophy. Just from a 1000 course I learned how to look at the world objectively and realized you can not take anything at just face value. This needs to be installed in all college students.
M
Mercedes Black
11 years ago
Expected Graduation: May 2015
S
Stefan Petrovski
11 years ago
We need philosophy in our major for pre health programs because it makes us think out side the box and make us critical thinkers
A
Adam Winbigler
11 years ago
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. The study of philosophy helps prevent that waste.
S
Sarah
11 years ago
Featured
Philosophy with Jeff Renaud is a class I will remember for the rest of my life. It changed my perspectives on who I am, what a college education is worth, what it means to be a human being, and what it means to be a woman today. Professor Renaud is the most
D
Desiree Oden
11 years ago
[Believe It or Not: Philosophy Is Needed] Alumni 03 and 06. Honestly, when I was and undergrad at the University I wanted nothing to do with Philosophy, as I understood it went around and around in circles with no clear end or beginning. It wasn't until I taught Ethics that I gained a real appreciation for Philosophy. The understanding of social norms, values, and constructs would be beneficial to anyone. Not only those attending college, but any and every one that is a part of society. Philosophy provides ways and methods of thinking outside the box, and seeing why so are still in the box. It is ideas and ideals that affect each person, both directly and indirectly whether we believe, acknowledge, or know it at all. It's what businesses mottos are built from, how organizations function, and the rules and regulations of it all based off moral principle. I've often wondered why there is a lack of black African American philosophers, with the loss of this program or these classes will only set that question back tenfold. Please fight to keep this department as a bridging force, among student and community.
B
Brandon Sierra
11 years ago
Expected graduation year: 2018
B
Brooke Sharpe
11 years ago
Philosophy has taught me how to think critically about topics that are taught not only in the philosophy department but also in other classes that I have taken in different departments. I believe the classes I have taken in the philosophy department at Detroit Mercy such as: Intro to Philosophy, Ethics, and Intro to Logic have made me a well-rounded person. In the University of Detroit Mercy's mission it clearly states that they seek to integrate the intellectual and ethical development of students. Without these classes from the philosophy department included in the core students won’t receive the knowledge they need in order to fulfil the criteria put in place by the university and faculty. If the university strives to uphold these core values, removing philosophy classes from the core would contradict the universities vision of what type of students they hope to graduate. Without proper critical thinking skills, which are taught in philosophy classes, graduates will not have the ability to analyze arguments that will overall help any graduate in any field not only in their profession but in daily life. Therefore the philosophy aspects of the core at The University of Detroit Mercy are important in making students successful and distinguishable after graduation.
K
Kimberly Utterbeck
11 years ago
graduating 2016
A
Adam McDonald (2015)
11 years ago
Ever since my first real exposure to philosophy under Dr. Koukal at UDM, I have fallen in love with the subject. Studying philosophy provides essential development of the mind that this generation so desperately needs. Away with the smart phones already! Philosophy has pushed me to reevaluate many aspects of my life, and it has only yielded positive results. I will forever be grateful for it, and only wish that those younger than me have the same opportunities for growth that I did through UDM's Philosophy Department.
J
John Nofar
11 years ago
Philosophy classes are always beneficial regardless of what major someone is, it's ridiculous that the small amount we have to take would be limited even more
J
Joe Mauro
11 years ago
I think that philosophy is necessary for any major to take. I as an engineering student took two philosophy classes and enjoyed both of them significantly. I personally think that these classes expand your thought process and help you become a better "learner". There are some other core curriculum that i believe to be less deserving of being in the core curriculum and just because of the religious affiliation of the university these are required. If philosophy is removed and these other core curriculum stay, i think this would be detrimental to the education of future students.
J
John McNally
11 years ago
I believe that the philosophy course at UDM should be required. I took the class 2 years ago with Professor Flores. I thought it was a very enlightening class in hte ideas of philosophy. and important in helping me formulate arguments. It forces tyou to try new perspectives and really make solid arguments for a particular stance and to work through the logic. Also learning about the ancient philosophers such as socrates, plato, and aristotle creates a window to the past to show that thought processes from thousands of years ago were similar and that we are dealing much with the same issues in today's society as they were dealing with thousands of years ago.
The 2 philosophy classes I have taken (Intro to Philosophy with Prof. Renaud and Logic with Prof. Koukal) are among my favorite class experiences at UDM. They have been very helpful for critical thinking skills, which I can also use in other disciplines. Philosophy has also helped shape how I view the world even outside of class. I wouldn't have taken either of these classes if they weren't a part of the core requirement! I think exposure to philosophy is important to stay in the core curriculum.
Philosophy is an important part of a well rounded education.
People need to be able to think critcally and ask questions to obtain knowledge. Please keep Philosophy!
May 2015
While I would actually support the removal of Philosophy or Ethics from the core curriculum (as these classes were essentially useless to me), I greatly enjoyed both my Logic and Phenomenology courses with Dr. Koukal and think it would be a shame to see these go. If keeping these classes necessititates keeping other philosophy class exposure, then I support this measure.
2018.
Philosophy has allowed me to look at things in a different perspective, and i hope to continue to take more philosophy courses at UDM!
I think it is very important students take at least an introduction to philosophy. Just from a 1000 course I learned how to look at the world objectively and realized you can not take anything at just face value. This needs to be installed in all college students.
Expected Graduation: May 2015
We need philosophy in our major for pre health programs because it makes us think out side the box and make us critical thinkers
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. The study of philosophy helps prevent that waste.
Philosophy with Jeff Renaud is a class I will remember for the rest of my life. It changed my perspectives on who I am, what a college education is worth, what it means to be a human being, and what it means to be a woman today. Professor Renaud is the most
[Believe It or Not: Philosophy Is Needed] Alumni 03 and 06. Honestly, when I was and undergrad at the University I wanted nothing to do with Philosophy, as I understood it went around and around in circles with no clear end or beginning. It wasn't until I taught Ethics that I gained a real appreciation for Philosophy. The understanding of social norms, values, and constructs would be beneficial to anyone. Not only those attending college, but any and every one that is a part of society. Philosophy provides ways and methods of thinking outside the box, and seeing why so are still in the box. It is ideas and ideals that affect each person, both directly and indirectly whether we believe, acknowledge, or know it at all. It's what businesses mottos are built from, how organizations function, and the rules and regulations of it all based off moral principle. I've often wondered why there is a lack of black African American philosophers, with the loss of this program or these classes will only set that question back tenfold. Please fight to keep this department as a bridging force, among student and community.
Expected graduation year: 2018
Philosophy has taught me how to think critically about topics that are taught not only in the philosophy department but also in other classes that I have taken in different departments. I believe the classes I have taken in the philosophy department at Detroit Mercy such as: Intro to Philosophy, Ethics, and Intro to Logic have made me a well-rounded person. In the University of Detroit Mercy's mission it clearly states that they seek to integrate the intellectual and ethical development of students. Without these classes from the philosophy department included in the core students won’t receive the knowledge they need in order to fulfil the criteria put in place by the university and faculty. If the university strives to uphold these core values, removing philosophy classes from the core would contradict the universities vision of what type of students they hope to graduate. Without proper critical thinking skills, which are taught in philosophy classes, graduates will not have the ability to analyze arguments that will overall help any graduate in any field not only in their profession but in daily life. Therefore the philosophy aspects of the core at The University of Detroit Mercy are important in making students successful and distinguishable after graduation.
graduating 2016
Ever since my first real exposure to philosophy under Dr. Koukal at UDM, I have fallen in love with the subject. Studying philosophy provides essential development of the mind that this generation so desperately needs. Away with the smart phones already! Philosophy has pushed me to reevaluate many aspects of my life, and it has only yielded positive results. I will forever be grateful for it, and only wish that those younger than me have the same opportunities for growth that I did through UDM's Philosophy Department.
Philosophy classes are always beneficial regardless of what major someone is, it's ridiculous that the small amount we have to take would be limited even more
I think that philosophy is necessary for any major to take. I as an engineering student took two philosophy classes and enjoyed both of them significantly. I personally think that these classes expand your thought process and help you become a better "learner". There are some other core curriculum that i believe to be less deserving of being in the core curriculum and just because of the religious affiliation of the university these are required. If philosophy is removed and these other core curriculum stay, i think this would be detrimental to the education of future students.
I believe that the philosophy course at UDM should be required. I took the class 2 years ago with Professor Flores. I thought it was a very enlightening class in hte ideas of philosophy. and important in helping me formulate arguments. It forces tyou to try new perspectives and really make solid arguments for a particular stance and to work through the logic. Also learning about the ancient philosophers such as socrates, plato, and aristotle creates a window to the past to show that thought processes from thousands of years ago were similar and that we are dealing much with the same issues in today's society as they were dealing with thousands of years ago.