Philosophy has been taught at the University of Pennsylvania since 1755, when the Bachelor of Arts degree was first offered. The first teacher of philosophy was William Smith, Provost of the newly founded Academy of Philadelphia. At that time, logic, metaphysics, moral philosophy, and natural philosophy formed the core of the College curriculum.
Philosophy at Penn
Tribute to Hilary Putnam, C’48, HON’85
Jonathan D. Moreno is the David and Lyn Silfen University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania where he is one of sixteen Penn Integrates Knowledge professors. At Penn he is also Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, of History and Sociology of Science, and of Philosophy.
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Philosophy's GERA Lab Featured in Penn Today
December 25, 2023
"These students were among seven people from Penn who spent two months in the Galápagos this summer, along with fourth-year environmental studies major Lía Enríquez, Master of Public Health student Vanessa Pacheco, and Kelly Kennedy, lab manager for the Galápagos Education and Research Alliance (GERA).
'Seeing everything to do there and learning from everyone there, I feel like my science skills got a lot better, I feel like my Spanish skills got a lot better, and it was incredible to just push myself outside my comfort zone,' says Gilbert, who is from Ellicott City, Maryland.
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Department History
Philosophy has been taught continuously in the University of Pennsylvania and its predecessors since 1755, when the Bachelor of Arts degree was first offered. The first teacher of philosophy was William Smith, first Provost of the newly founded Academy of Philadelphia. The various branches of philosophy, which included logic, metaphysics, moral philosophy, and natural philosophy, formed the core of the College curriculum.