Philosophy and the Sciences Major

Think like a scientist. Question like a philosopher.

The Philosophy and the Sciences Major is ideal for students in biology, physics, chemistry, psychology, and other sciences who want to deepen their understanding of the conceptual foundations of their field.

By combining the rigor of scientific reasoning with the reflective depth of philosophy, the Philosophy and the Sciences major helps you develop skills in critical analysis, argumentation, and interdisciplinary thinking – skills valued in research, technology, policy, and beyond – while exploring the logic, history, and impact of science from a philosophical perspective. According to the National Science Board, learning philosophical modes of inquiry can “contribute to inventiveness and, in turn, to competitiveness.” Level up your “how” by asking “why”.

Explore questions such as:

What distinguishes science from pseudoscience?
How do models, experiments, and data shape what we know?
Can science be truly objective?
What are the ethical and social implications of scientific discovery?
How should we treat human and animal research subjects?
Does nature have intrinsic or only instrumental value?

Michigan State is an ideal place to study the ethics, context, and nature of the sciences. The Department of Philosophy is known for its engaged approach to the discipline and is the home of the Socially Engaged Philosophy of Science research group, a world-renowned research group dedicated to understanding science and its role in society. MSU overall boasts a community of more than sixty science studies scholars, one of the largest numbers of faculty working in the history, philosophy, sociology, and context of the sciences. And you can combine your Philosophy and the Sciences major with a minor or major in dozens of science or engineering disciplines across the University.

Why Philosophy and the Sciences Major?

The Philosophy and the Sciences major has a flexible structure that allows students to complete it in as little as two years.

Students usually begin by taking survey course in on the nature of science and move to more specialized courses. Students must gain knowledge of at least one particular science by taking courses in a science discipline, up to 9 credits of which will count toward this major. The final semester includes a capstone course that pulls together the philosophical methods learned.

Ideal as a second major for those majoring in the sciences!

Complement your work as a scientist with insight into the nature and context of science as a form of knowledge and practice. Debate the ethical issues about experimental subjects, potentially harmful research, control over results, and social obligations of scientists. Boost your career in the sciences by being able to relate it to the larger issues you will face in practice. You can count up to 9 credits of your science disciplinary courses toward the Philosophy and the Sciences Major.

Careers for Philosophy and the Sciences Majors

Public policy
Science writing
Technology firm

Research institutions
Government and NGOs
Science Administration

Institutional Review Boards
Complementary to any career in the sciences and technology

Why Philosophy Matters: Famous Scientists and Technologists Who Studied It

Anthony J. Leggett, Nobel Prize winner for physics

Jean-Marie Lehn, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry

Norbert Wiener, mathematician, originator of the field of cybernetics, National Medal of Science winner

Philip K. Dick, Science Fiction Writer

Amanda Askell, Antrhropic researcher, Time 100 Most Influential People in AI.

Kimberly Bloomston, Chief Product Officer at LiveRamp and 6Sense

The philosophy of science is inherent in the process. This is to say, you think critically, you draw a conclusion based on evidence, but we all pursue discovery based on our observations. That's where science starts.

“The philosophy component of the degree, at least, has helped to shape the way at which I look at the world and in particular at the problems of physics. . . . one can never again look at the world in quite the same light. . . . it is as if one has learned to use a muscle that one did not know one had. At any rate I have never for a moment regretted the years I spent on this degree.”

“I fully agree with you about the significance and educational value of as well as history and philosophy of science. So many people today - and even professional - seem to me like someone who has seen thousands of trees but has never seen a forest. A knowledge of the historic and philosophical background gives that kind of independence from prejudices of his generation from which most scientists are suffering. This independence created by philosophical insight is - in my opinion - the mark of distinction between a mere artisan or specialist and a real seeker after truth.”

“All of us realized that what had started as a fundamental research question was morphing into a very different kind of project; namely, one with enormous technical potential and also risks and opportunities that we had not appreciated when we started the work,”

“Science is an exciting and impactful force on society and culture. But in our post-COVID era, and with the arrival of AI, it’s more important than ever to ask: How should we think about science and its relationship to the broader society in which it functions? Philosophy teaches you to use concepts with precision and to think about what you ought to do, not just what you can do. This makes philosophical training especially valuable for anyone studying the sciences. The Philosophy and the Sciences major will equip students to answer some of the most important questions facing us today and to understand scientific work and its ethical and societal implications.”