About Our Program

Why Philosophy? 
The Value of Philosophy with Memes and Charts (mostly charts)

The study of philosophy develops and refines a rigorous, analytic understanding of certain of our fundamental concepts, including knowledge, reason, truth and value. Since all other disciplines in academia rely on the use of such concepts, the study of philosophy is essential for an education directed toward completeness.

The study of philosophy also yields other tangible academic benefits. It has been shown that philosophy students scored at least five percentage points above average in admission tests for professional and graduate schools in America. No other subject matches philosophy in this respect. Philosophy students do better in examinations for business and management school than anyone except mathematicians.

With employment opportunities beyond academia growing—consultants to hospitals, state legislatures, Congress, genetic engineering firms and artificial intelligence companies—there has also been a proliferation of philosophical journals focused on such topics as the allocation of scarce medical resources, abortion, euthanasia, war, disposal of nuclear waste, corporate responsibility, and fair profit, etc.

The Philosophy Department additionally provides an Introduction to Philosophy course which surveys most of the standard fields of philosophy: logic, epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, the philosophy of religion and political philosophy.

The other courses offered (Ethics, Logic, Comparative World Religions, Comparative Philosophy: East and West, History of Philosophy: Ancient, Modern, and Contemporary, Philosophy of Religion, Issues in Philosophy) are more specific and detailed accounts of these standard fields. These philosophy courses may be transferred to four-year institutions. (Check for specifics with your counselor.)

The department offers an AA Degrees in Philosophy as well as Philosophy for Transfer. These degrees provide the foundational knowledge in philosophy to students who want to earn a Baccalaureate Degree in Philosophy. This degree is in compliance with the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act {Senate Bill 1440, now codified in California Education Code Sections 66746-66749} and guarantees admission to a California State University (CSU) campus for any community college student who completes an “associate degree for transfer,” a newly established variation of the associate degrees traditionally offered at a California community college. Upon completion of the transfer associate degree, the student is eligible for transfer with junior standing into the California State University (CSU) system. Students will be given priority consideration when applying to a particular program that is similar to the student’s community college area of emphasis. For more information on transfer degrees, visit www.sb1440.org.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the historically significant questions, problems and theories in the major areas of philosophy (epistemology, metaphysics, value theory, logic), including the views and arguments of the major representative philosophers who have addressed these issues.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic rules and principles of logic, including the skill and knowledge of identifying, analyzing and evaluating arguments.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the questions, problems, issues and theories that characterize the major historical periods of Western philosophy (Ancient, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary), as well as the views of the some major philosophers within these periods.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the complexity of the human condition, including knowledge of the significance of feelings, emotions and cultural/historical influences on philosophical thinking and methodology.
5. Demonstrate critical thinking skills, virtues and attitudes in the exploration of issues; these include intellectual humility, empathy, fairness, openmindedness and respect for the intellectual standards of clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, scope, depth and coherence.
6. Demonstrate proficiency in philosophical writing, which includes presenting a philosophical thesis, supporting that thesis with arguments, and articulating and responding to counter-arguments.

Special Programs

The Philosophy Department regularly fields debate teams that compete in the Ethics Bowl and in the International Business Ethics Case Competition. Ask a faculty member for more details. The Philosophy Department also sponsors the Philosophy Club. Any students interested in the study of philosophy are encouraged to join. Officers are elected in the fall, and a year-long agenda of  speakers and meetings is developed by the membership. All members of the campus community are welcome.

Outstanding Philosophy Student Award

The Philosophy Department at SBCC is proud to present the annual Philosophy Department Outstanding Philosophy Student Award, recognizing exceptional students who embody the spirit of philosophical inquiry.

Award Criteria:

To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates must meet the following criteria:

1. Academic Excellence: Demonstrated outstanding performance in philosophy coursework (recipient must be a declared Philosophy major).
2. Intellectual Curiosity: A passion for philosophy, evidenced by active participation in philosophical discussions, clubs, debate team, or extracurricular activities.
3. Critical Thinking: Proficiency in critical thinking skills, with the ability to engage in rigorous analysis, argumentation, and logical reasoning.
4. Original Thought: A track record of contributing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to philosophical debates.
5. Research and Writing: Outstanding research and writing skills, as showcased in essays, papers, or projects related to philosophy.
6. Resilience: A capacity to withstand or to recover from difficulties.
7. Faculty Recommendation: A strong endorsement from a faculty member(s) in the Philosophy Department who can attest to the student's exceptional dedication and intellectual promise.

The recipient of this award will not only receive recognition for their exceptional philosophical prowess but also $2,000 to support their academic journey. The winner will be honored at the annual Outstanding Student Awards Ceremony in May, and their name will be prominently displayed on the department webpage.

2023-2024: Isabella Lam

A near-infrared light image made by the James Webb Space Telescope of actively forming stars, known as Herbig-Haro 46/47, had at the bottom of the frame an apparent question mark. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI) " Courtesy of the New York Times

Department Office
Philosophy Department (IDC-352, ext. 4163)

Faculty and Offices
Chris Kramer, Chair (IDC-352, ext. 4163, E-mail: cakramer1@pipeline.sbcc.edu)
Marc Bobro (IDC-354, ext. 4710, E-mail: mebobro@pipeline.sbcc.edu)
Lecturers
Kyle Dickey - E-mail: kdickey@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Matthew Dittman - E-mail: mfdittman@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Dennis Gagnon - E-mail: ddgagnon@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Phillip Greene - E-mail: pbgreene@pipeline.sbcc.edu
Brian Looper - E-mail: btlooper@pipeline.sbcc.edu