A Different Kind of Examination

Courses in philosophy and religion expose Deerfield students to the sources, development, and working of those ideas that influence our actions and assign meaning to the human experience. Deerfield believes that as part of their education, students should examine their own values, and to do so properly it is helpful to be aware of some of the historical, philosophical, and theological foundations underlying their assumptions and beliefs.

The department's courses prompt students to bring to discussion their knowledge and insights from other disciplines; at the same time they introduce students to philosophical and religious ideas that demand careful reading and a kind of thinking distinct from what is expected in other courses. Courses at the freshman and sophomore levels address specifically the foundations of ethical decision-making and the place of religion in Western culture. Junior and senior-level courses give the student an opportunity to explore philosophical and religious ideas in greater depth and to see their connection to Eastern and Western cultures and political issues.