UST Philosophy Department

University of Santo Tomas

Faculty of Arts and Letters

The Graduate School

Department of Philosophy

Center of Excellence in Philosophy

Philippine Commission on Higher Education

PACUCOA Level IV-accredited program

Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation

The study of Philosophy in the University of Santo Tomas emanates from the Medieval emphasis on studia humanitatis, a humanistic education reminiscent of Plato's emphasis on musicae and gymnasticae (The Republic, VI), of Aristotle's stress on the political imbeddedness of each individual, of Thomas Aquinas' understanding of the inseparability of faith and reason. Philosophy in the university is rooted in the great intellectual traditions that attempt to form human beings according to cultural, moral, and aesthetic ideals derived from a diversity of cultures and civilizations.

The Department of Philosophy oversees the administration of the civil Philosophy programs of UST, separate, but an offshoot, from the University's Ecclesiastical Faculty of Philosophy which administers the Ecclesiastical degrees. The Department of Philosophy services the whole university via the administration of the General Education Philosophy courses, and forms an integral part of the Faculty of Arts and Letters where the Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Philosophy program is being offered. Moreover, the Department of Philosophy supervises the graduate Philosophy programs, Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), offered at the UST Graduate School.

Inspired by the Vision and Mission of the University and of the Faculty of Arts and Letters,

the Department of Philosophy envisions

a vibrant community of faculty and students

—an academic community impassioned by philosophical curiosity, the dissemination of knowledge, compassion, and spirituality.

Philosophy at UST

Philosophy has been taught at the University since its very foundation. Patterned after the European system of tertiary education, it was initially aimed at fulfilling the Church's mission of evangelization.

Learn more

Who are we?

The Department was established to oversee the secular philosophy program and is now a lively community composed of faculty members, graduate students, and researchers.

Learn more

Degree Programs

The Department is under the Faculty of Arts and Letters and works with the Graduate School in conferring academic degrees from an undergraduate to a doctoral degree in philosophy.

Learn More

Research Culture

The Department of Philosophy is one of the leaders in research in the University, centered on five research thrusts.

Learn more

Publications

With the Department's research comes numerous publications in the form of articles, book chapters, journals, monographs, and even textbooks.

Learn more

Events

The Department hosts numerous events to foster dialogue among peers and across disciplines, from senior faculty members to the youngest in our Philosophy community.

Learn more

Stay connected with the Department!

Academic Year 2024-2025

Featured events:

The First PhilSEP (Philippine Society of Education & Philosophy) Conference in partnership with the Department on the theme "Philosophizing about Education in the Philippines" to be held 20-21 September 2024.

The Asian Journals Network 2024 Seminar-Workshop sponsored by Unitas, Kritike, and Philippinana Sacra and co-sponsored by the Department and other units to be held 1 October 2024.

The Continental Philosophy Symposium II: Deutsche Philosophie on the theme "Reframing Enlightenment in an Alienated World" to be held 12-13 November 2024.