A new student interest group on philosophy is here at Texas A&M University-San Antonio where students can ask philosophical questions like “to be or not to be” — and a relatively new minor can recruit more students.
The group was started by political science senior Jeannie Murdock, who wanted to bring students together to talk about everyday interests as well as philosophical concepts to show that philosophy can help shape those everyday interests.
Murdock, who is minoring in philosophy, said she has observed a lack of critical thinking.
“I believe a lot of that comes from the dismissal of people’s interests. I want to take something that has a high caliber like philosophy and I want to show you it’s not actually a super high caliber, it’s very easy to understand with approachable topics with people’s interests,” Murdock said.
The interest group is open to students in any major, and any student can provide input on meeting topics. The main goal for students is to learn something new and have a place where out-of-the-box discussion is welcomed.
Murdock recruited two other students to help get this interest group started. She said she hopes more students will be interested in joining.
“Philosophy right now is just a minor, but if we can get more people interested in philosophy, if we can get more people to pick up the minor of philosophy after they attend a few club meetings, then maybe that could grow, even though I won’t be there for it, maybe that can grow into a major,” Murdock said.
Harris Bechtol, philosophy lecturer and faculty adviser to the new group, and Merritt Rehn-Debraal, instructional associate professor and program coordinator for philosophy, have been interested in getting this club started since Bechtol was hired in 2023, but students had not shown genuine interest. So when Murdock contacted Bechtol about starting the club, he said he was thrilled.
“I teach a lot of students each semester across my four classes, and many of them have been minoring in philosophy but many others cannot fit it into their schedule. Yet these students do express interest in staying involved with philosophy. So this will be a great venue for those students,” Bechtol said
Rehn-Debraal said she was also glad to see students interested in starting the club. She said the club will get students to talk outside of the classroom and give them the opportunity to keep exploring philosophy.
The philosophy minor started with three students in spring 2024. As of spring 2026 there are 34 students in the minor.
Rehn-Debraal said the program will support the club however it can.
“The philosophy program is excited to support the club in whatever ways we can and (I am) hopeful that increased student interest in philosophy will help us continue to grow the philosophy minor as we look toward developing a philosophy major in the future,” Rehn-Debraal said.
The group’s first meeting is on 5-7 p.m. April 9 in Room 110 of Classroom Hall, and will be open to members of the group only. The meeting will show an episode of “Rick and Morty” and the group will go into a philosophical discussion.
Anyone interested in joining must go to The Philosophy Club page on JagSync and join to become a member before attending the meeting.
For more information,email jmurd02@jaguar.tamu.edu or vist https://tamusa.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/thephilosophyclub.
