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From Harvard University to Columbia University, and from Princeton to Syracuse University - these are just a few of the institutions that have educated the faculty in UM-St. Louis' Department of Philosophy. The department has been educating the minds of men and women since 1963. For the first time in the department's history a woman now holds the title of Chairperson.
Stephanie Ross received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Harvard University and has been teaching at UM-St. Louis since 1976.
"The first thing I did was paint my office," said Ross. She said she wanted an environment where she would be happy spending long hours. The sign on her door still reads "Chairman." She said wants to keep it right where it is.
Ross, who is also Director of Graduate Studies for philosophy, was on leave last semester at Oregon State University. She spent her time working on a project titled, "Ideal Critics, Bad Art, Rotten Reviews."
"It was very exciting to be with other people in the humanities center, very invigorating," Ross said. "I came back from Oregon all the more enthusiastic about philosophy," she said. "I was able to relax and enjoy [the study of philosophy], and I want to make it possible for everyone in the department to have that good feeling," she said.
Ross is currently teaching one course, the philosophy of art. She speaks high praises for all of the faculty members in the department, including Ronald Munson, former Chairman.
"He's an eminent philosopher of medicine," Ross said. "He's being very nice in staying around this semester." She said he has been helping her adjust to and learn about her new position. "He's going on leave next semester, but now I can go beg for help all the time," Ross said.
Ross is also a published author. Modern music, women and fiction and the death of art are just a few of the topics she has written articles on. "What Gardens Mean" was published in 1998.
"With sound scholarship Stephanie Ross beautifully integrates garden and art history, philosophy, psychology and literature," said Mara Miller, an artist whose collections are displayed across the country. "'What Gardens Mean' is a fascinating and original study of the history of gardens and the aesthetic and philosophical issues they raise," Miller said in a review of the book.
"Philosophy is generally a male-dominated field, both historically and in modern times," Jeremy Cometon, freshman, philosophy, said.
"It's good and empowering that we have a woman chair," he said.
Cometon said he will eventually pursue a Ph.D. in philosophy.
He said he chose UM-St. Louis as the institution for his undergraduate degree not only for the philosophy department, but also because of everything UM - St. Louis entails.
"I really like the campus and all they have to offer," said Cometon.
UM-St. Louis offers a B.A. in Philosophy. Since January of 2000, students have been able to pursue a M.A. in philosophy as well.
Students who have graduated from UM-St. Louis with a M.A. in philosophy are currently working in Ph.D. programs all over the country, including Boston University, University of Pennsylvania and University of California at Santa Cruz.
Nick Baima is currently pursuing his M.A. in philosophy.
He said he chose the program at UM-St. Louis because other graduate students spoke so highly and positively about the department.
Baima is the President of the Philosophers' Forum, a group that consists of about 30 graduate students who study philosophy.
"[The Philosophers' Forum] gives philosophy students at UM-St. Louis an opportunity to meet and discuss their philosophical projects. It also gives philosophy students a chance to get to know one another better and make the semester more fun.
But the major thing that the forum does is each year is we put on a philosophy conference centered on a guest speaker.
We also have graduate students come from other universities and present their work," Baima said.
This year will be the 4th annual graduate student conference.
It will be open to the entire UM-St. Louis community. The Current will provide more details in a future issue.
"As a graduate student, the Forum gave me an opportunity to meet other students and to talk philosophy with them, which is pretty great," Baima said.
Baima will pursue a Ph.D. in philosophy after earning his M.A. He encourages all undergraduate students who are thinking about majoring in philosophy to stop by the fifth floor of Lucas Hall.
"We're a very friendly bunch," he said. He also suggests taking a few philosophy courses. "Also, talk to other philosophy majors and professors. They can give you good insight to the major," Baima said.
More information can be obtained at the department's website, http://www.umsl.edu/~philo/
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