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.
History of the Department, 1887-1967.
Georgi Gardiner's installation at Tulane's Howard-Tilton Memorial Lbrary on the "Cost of Fear" was featured in the University's newsletter, the Library's newsletter, and on YouTube!
Upcoming Events
September 11: David Schmidtz, Murphy Institute-Philosophy Dept. Faculty Seminar
October 9: Renee Jorgensen, Murphy Institute-Philosophy Dept. Faculty Seminar
October 9-11: Undergraduate Philosophy Conference
October 16: Brian Kogelmann, Murphy Institute-Philosophy Dept. Faculty Seminar
October 30: Vlad Tarko, Murphy Institute-Philosophy Dept. Faculty Seminar
January 22: Chandra Sripada, Murphy Institute-Philosophy Dept. Faculty Seminar
February 12: Paul Weithman, Murphy Institute-Philosophy Dept. Faculty Seminar
March 12: Susan Shell, Murphy Institute-Philosophy Dept. Faculty Seminar
April 9: Elizabeth Anderson, Murphy Institute-Philosophy Dept. Faculty Seminar
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
- Georgi Gardiner joined the Department in Fall 2024. Mario Juarez-Garcia joined the Department in Fall 2023.
- We have a specialty PhD track in Moral Philosophy.
- Check out the Course Descriptions for our Fall 2026 offerings in Philosophy!
- 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.
- 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.
- Congratulations to Jeffrey Colgan and Sam Hage for receiving the Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching for 2024!
- Learn more about our Graduate Placement and Dissertations.
- The Department is on Twitter and Facebook.