Philosophy

Is the human mind just an extraordinarily complicated machine? Given that we can now build machines that write, problem solve, and increasingly resemble us: could an artificial intelligence ever think, or be held morally responsible for what it does?

These are not idle puzzles. They are the kinds of questions our students and faculty take up every day.

The Department of Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas pairs our deep, long-standing connection to the thought of Aristotle and Aquinas with a willingness to follow questions wherever they lead. Our students might read the Nicomachean Ethics in the morning and examine the ethics of AI in the afternoon, or ask what the philosophy of sport can teach us about excellence, fairness, and the meaning of play.

What they gain is not only knowledge, but sharper ways of thinking: the ability to build a rigorous argument, to find hidden assumptions, to hear the strongest version of a view they reject. In a world filled with blustering and threats of cognitive deterioration, these are rare and valuable habits of mind.

Your gift supports students by providing funds for their travel to conferences and other events, giving students the chance to strengthen their academic talents. Help us prepare the next generation to think clearly, argue honestly, and ask the questions that matter.

Give today and join us.

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