An Introductory Account

The Department of Philosophy was established in the 1966/1967 academic year and is as old as Kuwait University itself. At that time, the department was formed of one unit with Psychology and Sociology. 

The department's objectives were summarized as follows:

1. Providing fresh graduates to work as teachers for the Ministry of Education.
2. Studying Islamic philosophy and its relationship to other schools of philosophy. 
3. Preparing new researchers and specialists seeking to complete their doctoral studies abroad to meet the department's and the country's needs for these specializations.
4. Preparing graduates who possess critical thinking and are well-versed in diverse aspects of intellectual history so that they may work in different positions at various professions. 

The first and second year curriculum included an introduction to the study of philosophy, a study of Greek and Medieval philosophy, Logic, and Theology, which was the first manifestation of philosophy among Muslims. The credit system was implemented at the college level in 1974 leading to the adoption of a completely new curriculum for philosophy and its sciences including all related fields of research and science. The university began implementing an elective course system across all faculties in 1975/1976 and hence a new plan was developed for the study of philosophy within a general academic framework that included the historical and thematic aspects of philosophy, emphasizing regional and national cultures and civilizations in Arabic and foreign languages. In 1980, the department launched its master's program, which is one of the oldest graduate programs in the College of Arts. The department is currently laying the foundation for a doctoral program.