Department of Philosophy

Antecedent Departments

History and Philosophy (1957–1958)
[Philosophy courses in English (1958–1967)]
Philosophy and Fine Arts (1967–1973)
Philosophy (1973)
Political Science and Philosophy (1974–1977)
Philosophy and Fine Arts (1977–1999)
Philosophy (1999–Present)

Department Heads

1957–1958	Col John R. Sala
1967–1994	*Col Malham M. Wakin*
1995–2000	*Col Charles R. Myers*
2000–2002	Lt Col William H. Rhodes
2000–2009	*Col James L. Cook*
Fall 2009	Dr J. Carl Ficarrotta
2010–2015	*Col Cook*
2015–2016	Dr Carl E. Bertha
2016–	*Col Cook*

Permanent Professors

The Department Today:

The department guides cadets to undertake their study of philosophy and religion as part of a life of energetic inquiry aimed at developing the virtues appropriate to a leader of character. It introduces cadets to a critical study of several major moral theories and their application to contemporary moral problems with special emphasis on the moral problems of the profession of arms. Highlighted are the officer’s responsibilities to reason and act ethically; develop critical thinking skills; and to know civic, cultural, and international contexts in which the US military operates. Cadets learn influential normative theories about ethics and the foundations of character. The department offers special expertise in the sub-disciplines of ethics, logic, philosophy of religion, political philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, aesthetics, philosophy of science, and philosophy of law.

Curriculum:

The department offers 19 Philosophy courses.
Core Courses:
Philos 310. Ethics
Philos 401. Comparative Religion (Advanced Sociocultural Choice)
Majors: Philosophy
Humanities (Interdisciplinary)
Minors: Philosophy
Religion Studies (Interdisciplinary)

Noteworthy:

The Department of Philosophy takes great pride in being the only stand-alone Philosophy Department among the US service academies, as well as the only one to develop a minor in Religion Studies. The department sponsors the annual Reich Lecture on War, Morality, and the Military Profession and the Alice McDermott Memorial Lecture in Applied Ethics. Faculty members frequently publish and provide editorial assistance in major disciplinary publications such as the international Journal of Military Ethics.