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We are a lively community of philosophers with a broad range of scholarly interests.

We offer rigorous, competitive programs in traditional core areas of philosophy, as well as opportunities to explore sometimes-neglected subfields like feminist philosophy or aesthetics.

Our traditional strengths in logic and the philosophy of science remain central to the department, and they are now complemented by very strong programs in action theory, ethics and political philosophy, language, mind and epistemology, and the history of philosophy — especially ancient philosophy and Kant studies.

History of the Department         See Faculty Research Areas

Galileo statue

Engage Philosophy

Philosophy should be engaged and applied, addressing questions as they arise in the real world and within the practices of other disciplines. That tradition in Stanford Philosophy is reflected in our collaboration with a wide range of interdisciplinary programs.  Follow the links below to learn more. 

Undergraduate program overview

Graduate program overview

Upcoming Events

May
11
Date
Mon May 11th 2026, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location
Law School
559 Nathon Abbott Way, Stanford, CA 94305
Room 290
May
12
Date
Tue May 12th 2026, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Location
Building 260, Pigott Hall
450 Jane Stanford Way, Building 260, Stanford, CA 94305
Rm 252
May
13
Date
Wed May 13th 2026, 12:00pm - 1:15pm
Location
Gates Computer Science Building
353 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305
119

News

What does it mean to be reasonable?In a new book, Stanford philosopher Krista Lawlor explores how understanding this elusive trait can foster more productive dialogue about what really matters.In briefKrista Lawlor’s new book defines reasonableness as an essential virtue for understanding diverse perspectives and
Professor Dagfinn Føllesdal, Clarence Irving Lewis Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Stanford University, passed away in the morning of March 1, 2026.
The Philosophy Department at Stanford University is pleased to announce that two of our esteemed colleagues have been honored with prestigious awards from the American Philosophical Association (APA) for the year 2025.