Philosophy Department

"We should love both: those whose opinion we follow, and those whose opinion we reject.
For both have applied themselves to the quest for the truth, and both have helped us in it."

-St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Aristotle's Metaphysics, Book XII, Lecture 9.

Diversity and Focus

At the Philosophy Department of the University of Dallas, Aquinas's admonition to "love both: those whose opinion we follow, and those whose opinion we reject" is taken seriously. At U.D., we study and teach the philosophical tradition in its full breadth, affording each thinker the sympathetic hearing which Aquinas considered appropriate in approaching his own sources-whether Christian, Jewish, Islamic, or pagan. Thus, our faculty offer courses that range from the Presocratics, Plato, and Aristotle through medieval and modern thinkers to such influential contemporary philosophers as Wittgenstein, Heidegger, and Foucault. Non-Western traditions such as Oriental thought also find a place in our curriculum. Nevertheless, in our department this diversity does not entail a lack of focus; the "quest for the truth" of which Aquinas speaks is not an empty phrase. We believe that the truth exists, and remain faithful to the Christian heritage as developed in the tradition of the Catholic Church. We want to follow the example of Aquinas in endeavoring to enrich this heritage continuously, and in never ceasing to rethink it in the light of new philosophical challenges.

Professional Activities

The Philosophy Department houses the editorial offices of the American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly, which is internationally known as the journal of the American Catholic Philosophical Association. Several members of the department are actively involved in the coordination of the Dallas Medieval Texts and Translations series of medieval Latin texts with accompanying English translations. It also organizes an annual Aquinas Lecture, which has attracted outstanding philosophers from the U.S. and abroad.

A Spirit of Friendship and Love

"We should love both," Aquinas says. Indeed, philosophy is not a merely "intellectual" exercise. The Philosophy Department at U.D. is committed to educating young philosophers in the spirit of friendship and love, which has been the ideal of philosophy since ancient Greek times. Serious philosophical reflection is possible only with an attitude of respect for the opinions of others and in a spirit of tolerance. We hope that our students will leave our department strengthened not only in their commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and truth, but also in the practice of virtues which will stay with them in whatever career they may choose.

Library

The library of the University of Dallas houses an excellent collection of primary philosophical texts. It receives around fifty philosophy and philosophy-related journals in several languages, which give it one of the most extensive collections of philosophical review in the Southwest. A speedy interlibrary loan system ensures that materials not available at U.D. can be consulted within a few days.

Contact Information

Department phone: 972.721.5161
Department fax: 972.721.4005
Department email: phildept@udallas.edu

Mailing Address:

University of Dallas
Philosophy Department
1845 E. Northgate Dr.
Irving, TX 75062-4736


Physical Location:

The Philosophy Department is located in the Braniff Building (2920 Gorman Dr.) on the third floor. The Braniff building is number 9 on the campus map.