Department of Philosophy

The Department specializes in contemporary and historical approaches to Ethics and Political Philosophy. The Department is closely connected to The Murphy Institute’s Center for Ethics and Public Affairs and has a specialty PhD track in Moral Philosophy. Several of our faculty members also have research interests in Philosophy of Mind and related areas. We are associated with the Cognitive Studies Coordinate Major, along with Religious Studies, Jewish-Christian Studies and Asian Studies.

We offer courses in many areas, including Ethics, Political Philosophy, History of Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Logic. Our major and minor programs are flexible and allow students to pursue an array of philosophical interests. Many of our courses satisfy components of the Tulane curriculum, including Global Perspectives, Textual & Historical Perspectives, Western Traditions, Formal Reasoning, Writing Skills, and Service Learning. Our Philosophy Club hosts student-led discussions, lectures, and other philosophy-themed activities, and includes a newly-minted Medical Ethics branch.

History of the Department, 1887–1967.

Information about Medical Ethics at Tulane, including our new MS in Philosophy and Bioethics.

Download Philosophy Spring 2027 Course Descriptions

Upcoming Events

Student Spotlight

Philosophy and Community Wellness

Graduate student José Roberto González Bisteni works with Project Lazarus, using philosophical inquiry to promote wellness and critical thinking.

News and Announcements

  • Jason Byas and Alexander Schaefer joined the Department in Fall 2026 and Georgi Gardiner joined the Department in Fall 2024.
  • We have a PhD track in Moral Philosophy and offer an MS in Philosophy and Bioethics.
  • The Department now has a Chapter of the Phi Sigma Tau Honor Society.
  • Professor Ronna Burger talks about the examined life with the Tulane SLA Magazine!
  • To view course offerings within the Department of Philosophy, please reference the University Catalog. Please view the Schedule of Classes to see course offerings for the current semester.
  • Keith Silverman (PhD 2020) passed away on June 23, 2025. Keith recently published a collection of poems, Aeolian Sonnets: Windsongs of the Heart, and will be missed.
  • Josepih Keegin (PhD 2024) began a tenure track position at the Miami University Center for Civics, Culture, and Society in Fall 2026.
  • Evan Coulter (PhD 2025) began a postdoctoral fellowship at UT-Austin in Fall 2025.
  • Cynthia Ma (PhD 2025) began a postdoctoral fellowship at UT-Austin in Fall 2025.
  • Maura Cowen (PhD 2025) began a postdoctoral fellowship at UT-Austin in Fall 2025.
  • April Olsen (PhD 2024) began a tenure track position at St. John’s College, Santa Fe, in Fall 2025.
  • Nicolas Allmaier (PhD 2024) began a position as Visiting Lyceum Scholar at Clemson University in Fall 2025.
  • Paul Wilford (PhD 2016) began a position as Associate Teaching Professor at the Chase Center at Ohio State University in Fall 2025.
  • Learn more about our Graduate Placement and Dissertations.
  • The Department is on Twitter ("X") and Facebook.