Welcome to the Department of Philosophy

Congratulations, Max Stone! 2024 Presidential Scholar

Max Stone accomplished an extraordinary amount during his three years at Western.

He completed two majors (history and philosophy) and two minors (holocaust and genocide studies. and honors interdisciplinary studies). He served on the WWU Board of Trustees as its student trustee, captained the men’s rugby team, and helped revive the Philosophy Club as its president.

“Max Stone is one of the most remarkable students that I have worked with in my 19 years at Western,” writes Professor Ryan Wasserman.

A first-rate student, Stone impressed faculty with his history thesis, which deftly applied his understanding of philosophy to the discipline of history to explore the history of antinatalist philosophy.

Rugby is another passion of Stone’s. He has twice been recognized as an American Collegiate Rugby All-American, served as both captain and president of Western’s Men’s Rugby Club and coordinated annual free rugby camps on campus. He also organized free rugby camps for kids in British Columbia through the BC Grassroots Rugby Foundation.

“In all his endeavors, he demonstrates leadership well beyond what we expect from students,” writes History Professor Susan Costanzo, “and his pursuits have benefited both Western and the diverse communities of lower British Columbia.”

Presidential Scholar, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

'2024

Congratulations, Gray Brem! 2024 Outstanding Graduate

Gray completed two degrees in philosophy and psychology at Western and remains committed to the unique and illuminating junction of these two fields. Her inquisitiveness about the human experience has largely motivated her pursuits in these disciplines.

Drawn to involvement in both departments, Gray served as a teaching assistant for PHIL 201: Introduction to Logic and as a research assistant in Dr. Barbara Lehman’s Stress lab in the Psychology Department. In addition, her fervor for learning serves as encouragement for her to continue her studies in graduate school in hopes of contributing to the philosophical literature on psychologically grounded topics such as identity, affectivity, and the relation between mind and body.

"Gray is both an outstanding graduate and a wonderful person," writes Philosophy Chair and Professor Ryan Wasserman, "and her combination of creativity and careful thinking is exactly what we like to see in our students."

Department of Philosophy Outstanding Graduate

'2024

Camille Fogel

"I loved majoring in philosophy! I found the community to be really engaging, supportive, and academically challenging. I grew as a writer, thinker, and speaker, and I feel strongly that this degree directly laid the foundation for my success in graduate school. Studying philosophy has given me the tools to continue to learn, explore new ideas, and ask meaningful questions even outside of an academic setting."

Department of Philosophy Outstanding Graduate

2022

Trent Latta

"No better educational backgrounds at Western could have prepared me for law school...both disciplines demand a commitment to deep, critical thinking and applied analyses."

Attorney, Actor, and Writer

'2003

Dee Payton

“Studying philosophy is great because you get to study the structure of reasoning, which is relevant to basically everything… Plus, WWU has one of the best undergrad philosophy programs in the US!”

Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Virginia

'2017