The Subprogram in Philosophy provides education and research in three fields:
Philosophy, Ethics, and Religious Studies.

In the field of Philosophy, there are three major approaches—Western philosophy, Eastern philosophy, and philosophy of science (including contemporary philosophy).
Although these approaches differ, they share a common aim: to formulate problems clearly and to cultivate rigorous thinking and original intellectual creativity.

The field of Ethics consists of the history of ethical thought (“history”) and ethics as an academic discipline (“theory”). The history of ethical thought covers modern and contemporary Western ethics as well as the history of Japanese ethical thought. Ethics as a discipline includes hermeneutics, philosophy of history, philosophical anthropology, moral theory, rights theory, normative theory, political philosophy, communication theory, and applied areas such as bioethics, intercultural conflict, and the SDGs. Even when addressing these current issues, research is expected to be grounded in accurate interpretation of intellectual history and a deep understanding of human existence.

In the field of Religious Studies, students can learn a wide range of methods, theories, and fields of religious research. Research topics include major religious traditions—such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam—as well as new religions, relations between religion and society, and religious thought, using approaches from religious studies, the history of religions, philosophy of religion, and sociology of religion. While building on textual research, the program also places emphasis on fieldwork.