Ana Yanez ’27
The big questions about how to live a good life, what we owe each other, and what is right and wrong drew me to taking philosophy classes. I’ve gained not only more answers than I could’ve imagined, but even more questions!
While I was initially focused on ethics, I’ve been able to take philosophy classes in multiple other philosophical disciplines here at Pomona that have broadened my understanding and provided different avenues from which to answer these big questions and many others. Through the Pomona Philosophy Department, I’ve gained skills in reasoning, logic, and willingness to change my beliefs. Our professors are patient, encouraging and determined to help you learn.
Philosophy is best done in community, and we have such a supportive, collaborative and inquisitive community here at Pomona! There is an inviting curiosity in each student, and our interests in different fields do not divide us but instead provide us with more frameworks from which to evaluate our own and each other’s ideas.
Majoring in philosophy helps you figure out what you believe and get down to the root of what it is others believe. It illuminates the different possibilities of how the world could and should be, not only in a theoretical sense, but in a tangible, applicable way. Everything is philosophy!
Kristen Taylor ’26
I decided to major in philosophy after I took my second philosophy class at Pomona, Philosophy of Gender, with Professor Ellie Anderson. This class made me realize that there are so many different modes of thinking which philosophy opens you up to. Philosophy pushes you to question your values, your morals, and why you hold the beliefs about the world that you do. It has been challenging but so rewarding to gain a deeper understanding of myself, the world, and the interconnected nature of how our experiences and identities shape our societies. Philosophy has helped me to grasp different methods of conceptualizing and understanding the world. The Pomona Philosophy Department is wonderful and I’ve enjoyed finding a community of curious students who are always willing to question their beliefs with me!