PHILOSOPHY AND SOCIOLOGY

PHILOSOPHY/SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT’S MISSION STATEMENT

Pierce College's Philosophy and Sociology department synergistically aims at creating the transformative experiences that engender intellectual and personal growth.  By developing and maintaining crucial tools and programs, department members cultivate, mentor, and prepare students academically and socially for a successful life.  The department unites two essential disciplines and diverse faculty members who are committed to preparing students for lifelong learning through a strong liberal arts education.  Faculty members' total dedication to the standards of their respective disciplines and to the student population is demonstrated by the effective and thoughtful pursuit of innovative, collaborative, and critical engagement with all members of the campus and District community.

 

PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy is the study of problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, truth, beauty, justice, mind, and language.  Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing these questions (such as mysticism or mythology) by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on reasoned argument.  The word philosophy derives from Ancient Greek and means "love of wisdom." The philosopher is, then, a lover of wisdom, a seeker of truth.

Areas of philosophical study are of interest to anyone seeking to enlarge their intellectual compass and to hone their critical thinking techniques. Such activities are crucial preparation for any further academic work, but are also invaluable to anyone interested in reflecting upon their beliefs.

There are myriad subject areas in philosophy, among them philosophy of law, philosophy of language, philosophy of film, philosophy of literature, and philosophy of science.  These fall under one or more of the following branches:

  • Metaphysics is the investigation of the nature of things.
  • Epistemology is concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge, and whether knowledge is possible.
  • Ethics is concerned with questions of, e.g., value, conduct, good, right, how persons ought to act or if such questions are answerable.
  • Political philosophy is the study of government and the relationship of individuals and communities to the state.
  • Aesthetics is the study of beauty, art, and related subjects.
  • Logic is the study of correct reasoning.
 
While philosophy and sociology are separate academic disciplines, with philosophy typically classified as one of the humanities and sociology as one of the social sciences, sociology’s origins are to a large degree philosophical.  Early philosophers, including Plato, attempted social analysis.  On the other hand, influential thinkers in sociology, such as Comte, Marx and Spencer were also philosophers.

Rodin's statue

Pierce College offers core courses in philosophy and sociology that articulate with or transfer to colleges and universities across the country.  The department boasts instructors with specializations that range across the spectrum of each discipline.  We have, for example, instructors specializing in aesthetics, logic, ancient Greek and modern philosophy; deviance and criminology, sociology of religion, and sociology of pop culture.

Both philosophy and sociology have thriving clubs that are involved in a variety of academic and non-academic activities on and off campus.  Sociology Club president is April Vilgera and Philosophy Club president is Jonathon Klyng.  Dr. Anna Bruzzese and James McKeever are the Sociology Club advisors, and Mia Wood, Dr. Melanie McQuitty, Paul Hicks, and James Singer are Philosophy Club advisors.
faculty photo
left to right, standing: Chuck O'Connell, Paul Hicks, James McKeever, Anna Bruzzese, James Singer, Sage Bennet; sitting: Cara Gillis, Mia Wood, John Birmingham, Mitra Hoshiar
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SOCIOLOGY

Sociology is the study of human social life.  Sociology is an effort to use systematic methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human societies and people’s social activity.  Its subject matter ranges from the micro level of face-to-face interaction to the macro level of whole political regimes and economic systems.

Sociology is a broad discipline in terms of both methodology and subject matter. Its traditional focuses have included culture, deviance, social interaction and social inequality.  Its approaches have included both qualitative and quantitative research techniques, such as observing people in their natural environment, comparing social structures across nations and time periods, or using statistical data analysis.

Sociologists study all kinds of social phenomena, ranging from what is considered the most despicable to the holiest.  Sociology’s main goal is to understand and explain human behavior in a social context, rather than to judge it. 



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