Department of Philosophy

Meet Our Faculty Philosophy Faculty

Wheaton's Philosophy faculty are both continentally- and analytically-trained, meaning they have expertise in two major traditions of Western philosophy:

• Analytic Philosophy focuses on logic, clarity, and structured argumentation. It is often associated with topics like language, science, and mind, emphasizing precise reasoning and systematic analysis. Think of philosophers like Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Willard Van Orman Quine.

• Continental Philosophy tends to explore broader, often more abstract questions about existence, culture, history, and human experience. It includes traditions like existentialism, phenomenology, and postmodernism, with thinkers such as Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Michel Foucault.

Having faculty trained in both traditions means students at Wheaton engage with philosophy from multiple perspectives—learning the rigor and precision of analytic philosophy while also exploring the historical and interpretive depth of continental thought. This well-rounded approach helps students think critically, engage deeply, and apply philosophy to a wide range of real-world and intellectual challenges.