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Philosophy

Collage of Philosophy Department faculty and students at various events
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Welcome to the Shyam Dev Patwardhan Department of Philosophy

The Shyam Dev Patwardhan Department of Philosophy offers a B.A. in Philosophy, an undergraduate minor in Philosophy, and programs of study leading to two advanced degrees: a terminal M.A., either with thesis or without, and a PhD. Our esteemed faculty are knowledgeable in the major branches of philosophy, with particular strengths in logic, metaphysics, epistemology, aesthetics and philosophy of art, philosophy of science, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, philosophy of religion, Chinese philosophy, and history of ancient and modern philosophy. In addition to formal instruction, the department provides a rich and lively environment with an emphasis on informal interaction between faculty and students.

Our department also sponsors a variety of colloquia, lecture series, and conferences, facilitating ongoing discussion of topics relevant to our students and times.

Kingfisher Chair

Headshot of Yujin Nagasawa.

We are pleased to welcome Yujin Nagasawa as Professor and Kingfisher College Chair in the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, starting January 1, 2024. Prof. Nagasawa is the author of God and Phenomenal Consciousness (Cambridge, 2008), Maximal God (Oxford, 2017), and other books and articles; editor of the journal Religious Studies; and leader of the Global Philosophy of Religion Project. He is currently working on a book on the problem of evil for Oxford University Press and will teach a graduate seminar on the topic at OU in Spring 2024. You can learn more about his wide-ranging work here.

Being a Philosophy Major at OU