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    Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

    Philosophy

    Philosophy

    The Merritt College's Philosophy Department is the study of the fundamental nature of reality, knowledge, and values based on logical reasoning. Course topics include Intro to Philosophy, Social and Political Philosophy and Logic. Students may take courses to fulfill general education requirements as noted in specific courses below.

    Department Overview

    Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of reality, knowledge, and values based on logical reasoning. Course topics include Intro to Philosophy, Social and Political Philosophy, and Logic. Students may take courses to fulfill general education requirements as noted in specific courses below.

    Career options include teaching, counseling, law, work within a hospital or business ethics organization, politics and political activism, and computer science.

    Faculty & Staff

    Egbert HiginioEgbert Higinio
    Email: ehiginio@peralta.edu

    Egbert R. Higinio has taught at the high school level in Belize, Oakland, Tracy, and San Jose cities. Now he teaches and lectures in English composition, comparative literature, logic, critical thinking, and introduction to philosophy at institutions such as San Jose Evergreen Valley College, Los Angeles City College, and San Jose State University. He enjoys applying critical theory to literature readings and topical concepts such as racism, justice, immigration, poverty and liberation theology. He has attended literature and philosophical international conferences where he published and presented controversial pieces including “The Caribbean: Mimicry, Imitation, or Mimesis through the poetry of Derek Walcott,” “Ecotourism Gone Awry (in Belize),” “The Phenomena of the Anglo-Guatemalan-Belize (territorial) Claim”, and a review on “Afro-Belizeans of Los Angeles”. Presently, he is collaborating on documentaries and on topics that utilizes the literary tools of deconstruction and hermeneutics. He is passionate about students learning the fundamentals of academic research, so that they recognize the importance of intellectual productivity and their contribution to the academic community.   He is a cultural activist and his hobbies are: reading, soccer, travelling, gardening, and beekeeping.  Egbert earned his BA in English Literature from University of Belize and continued these studies in Comparative Literature at San Jose State University, from which he obtained his MA degree in philosophy.

    Contact Information

    Department Co-Chair
    Neal Skapura
    nskapura@peralta.edu

    Todd Johnson

    Department Co-Chair
    Todd Johnson
    Building F-208
    tjohnson@peralta.edu
    (510) 436-2657

    Chriss Warren Foster

    Dean of Division
    I-Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
    Dr. Chriss Warren Foster
    Building L-123
    cfoster@peralta.edu
    (510) 434-3897

    Denise Woodward

    Assistant to the Dean
    Denise Woodward
    Building D-216
    dwoodward@peralta.edu
    (510) 436-2425

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