Philosophy

Student wearing Hawkeye sweatshirt walking out of EPB

Think beyond the ordinary

Develop clear, systematic thinking with a degree in philosophy from the University of Iowa.

Why Iowa?

Investigate some of the deepest and most important questions about the world and our place in it, with leading experts in philosophy, at a top writing university.

Study Here

students in classroom at computers discussing topics

Develop your fundamentals

Learn how to think logically and independently, and communicate clearly and effectively. Position yourself for multiple possible career paths—in law, public policy, education, academia, journalism, consulting, and more.

Develop your fundamentals

grad students in a discussion with outher students

Advance your academic work

Build on your skills to be a researcher and teacher in academia. Publish your work and learn how to talk about it.

Advance your academic work

Learn from experts

Our faculty study and are published across the many focus areas in philosophy — from history, to ethics and politics, metaphysics, and beyond.

Learn from experts

Why Philosophy?

Studying philosophy will teach you how to think, argue, and communicate effectively—skills valued highly by employers, law schools and other graduate programs, and critical to flourishing in a complex world. Philosophy is also intrinsically rewarding, with the power to transform your perspective in deep ways.

Explore Careers

"As a philosophy student, I was able to alter my frame of thinking by learning new ideas about how the world works. Iowa's Department of Philosophy prepared me for law school; for the reading and writing I do daily, and taught me how to think outside the box."
- Sydney Schreiber, BA 2019

News and announcements

Kristopher Phillips, a 2014 UI Philosophy PhD graduate, has won the 2023 Prize for Excellence in Philosophy Teaching!

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Kristopher Philips, a University of Iowa Philosophy PhD graduate, won the 2023 Prize for Excellence in Philosophy Teaching.

Prof. Carrie Figdor’s online video lectures on the Basics of Folk Psychology have been released

Friday, November 17, 2023

Professor Carrie Figdor released video lectures on the Basics of Folk Psychology as part of a Neural Mechanisms Online Beginners Guide to Neural Mechanisms.

Professor Diane Jeske joins the Talk of Iowa Book Club on Iowa Public Radio

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Professor Diane Jeske joins the Talk of Iowa Book Clud to discuss Klara and the Sun by Sir Kazu Ishiguro.

View More News

Events

UI Public Philosophy Lecture: Public Discourse: Michael Lynch, University of Connecticut

Friday, April 19, 2024 3:30pm to 5:00pm

English-Philosophy Building

Michael Lynch, University of Connecticut “Truth as a Democratic Value” If you need accommodations in order to attend any event, please call 319-335-0178

View more events

Think beyond the ordinary

Why Iowa?

Develop your fundamentals

Advance your academic work

Learn from experts

Why Philosophy?

"As a philosophy student, I was able to alter my frame of thinking by learning new ideas about how the world works. Iowa's Department of Philosophy prepared me for law school; for the reading and writing I do daily, and taught me how to think outside the box."

News and announcements

Kristopher Phillips, a 2014 UI Philosophy PhD graduate, has won the 2023 Prize for Excellence in Philosophy Teaching!

Prof. Carrie Figdor’s online video lectures on the Basics of Folk Psychology have been released

Professor Diane Jeske joins the Talk of Iowa Book Club on Iowa Public Radio

Events

UI Public Philosophy Lecture: Public Discourse: Michael Lynch, University of Connecticut

Sievert Lecture: Saba Bazargan-Forward, UC San Diego

UI Public Philosophy Lecture: Public Discourse: Talia Bettcher, California State University, Los Angeles

Bergmann Lecture and UIGPS Keynote Lecture: Şerife Tekin, SUNY Upstate Medical University