Okayama University Faculty of Letters

This major pursues various forms of research centered on questions, such as “What does it mean to be human?” and “What is appropriate human behavior?” Disciplines, such as philosophy and ethics, rely upon logic and reason to contemplate these questions, while forms of art, such as painting, music, acting, and poetry, rely on emotion to give expression to such inquiries. This major aims to engage students in the universal project of the exploration of mysteries of human existence by either following the trail of past/present philosophers and thinkers or analyzing/interpreting works of art. This may not an easy path. Consequently, this major affords the widest possible range of surveys, lectures, and practicum, allowing each student to acquire specialized knowledge and to learn academic methodology necessary to investigate issues that intrigue him or her.