Ask the big questions. Think the big ideas.

Philosophy explores the complex and ever-evolving questions that we face in our everyday lives in a rational and critical way. It addresses fundamental issues—relevant to all disciplines—about the nature of truth, knowledge, justice, meaning and beauty.

You’ll find that the big questions of philosophy are universal and can be applied to the significant issues facing humanity and the ethical dilemmas we each face every day. The study of philosophy can be applied to virtually any discipline, like medicine, science, politics and law.

All disciplines employ reasoning in pursuing knowledge but philosophy is unique in explicitly exploring the nature of reasoning and its relation to the pursuit of truth and practical wisdom.

—Colin Macleod, Chair

Join the conversation and find your edge in philosophy

The Philosophy Department is committed to providing an environment for all students, staff, and faculty that is safe, inclusive, and respectful.  We affirm the diverse identities of persons and the rights all individuals have to be treated with dignity and respect irrespective of their gender, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, class, or national origin. This basic commitment entails, among other things, specific recognition and support for trans, queer, two-spirited, and non-binary people and we respect individuals’ rights to self-determination and self-description.

We acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory the University of Victoria stands, and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.