Phi Sigma Tau

International honor society for philosophers

Phi Sigma Tau

ΦΣΤ
Founded| 1930; 95 years ago (1930)
Muhlenberg College
Type| Honor
Affiliation| ACHS
Status| Active
Emphasis| Philosophy
Scope| North America
Motto| Φιλούντων Σοφίαν Τιμή ("The honor of those who love wisdom")
Colors|  White and  Purple
Publication| Dialogue
Chapters| 240
Members| 36,000+ lifetime
Headquarters| c/o Dr. David E. Gibson, Executive Secretary,
Humanities Division, Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, California 90263-4225
United States
Website| phisigmatau.org

Phi Sigma Tau (ΦΣΤ, or PST) is an international honor society for philosophers. In addition to providing a means of awarding distinction to students with high scholarship and interest in philosophy, Phi Sigma Tau also promotes interest in philosophy among the general collegiate public.[1] There are currently 200 active chapters in the U.S. and Canada, with 31301 members.[2]

## History

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The society was founded in 1930 at Muhlenberg College as Alpha Kappa Alpha, with a regional organization with chapters in Pennsylvania and Maryland.[1] The society held annual meetings where student shared and discussed papers that were later published in Philosoph.[1]

The society was incorporated as Phi Sigma Tau on October 21, 1955.[1] Its mission is to honor academic achievement and interest in philosophy, encourage student research, provide opportunities to published papers, and create ties between philosophy students and programs at various institutions.[1][3]

Since 1955, the society has published a biannual philosophy journal called Dialogue, which publishes articles from the entire field of philosophy, regardless of whether the contributor is a member of Phi Sigma Tau.[4][1] On October 21, 1958, the society was admitted to membership in the Association of College Honor Societies.[2] Phi Sigma Tau held its first national convention in 1960 at Gettysburg College.[1]

In 1991, Phi Sigma Tau became an international society by installing its first Canadian chapter.[5] In 2011, it had 238 active chapters, 1,193 current members, and 35,658 lifetime members.[2]

There are currently 200 active chapters in the U.S. and Canada, with 31,301 members.[2] Its national headquarters are at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

The reverse of the Athenian tetradrachm is the seal of ΦΣΤ.

## Symbols

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The emblem of Phi Sigma Tau is in the shape of a pentagon; each of the five angles contains a symbol that represents one of the five streams of world thought: Chinese, Indian, Islamic, Hebrew, and Greek.[1] The seal of Phi Sigma Tau is the reverse side of the Athenian silver tetradrachm, which bears the owl of Pallas Athene, the goddess of wisdom and rational inquiry, an olive spray, a small crescent, and the name of Athena in Greek.[1][5] The margin of the seal bears the name of the society. The colors of Phi Sigma Tau are white and purple.[1]

The motto of Phi Sigma Tau is Φιλούντων σοφίαν τιμή (Philoúnton sophían timé), Greek for "the honor of those who love wisdom."[1][6] Its colors are white and purple. Its graduating members may wear white and purple honor cords.

## Chapters

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Main article: List of Phi Sigma Tau chapters

## Membership

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The current membership requirements are variable from chapter to chapter, but in general, undergraduate students are eligible for active membership if they have completed two semesters of college, rank in the upper 35% of their class, and have completed at least two-semester courses in philosophy with an average overall grade which is greater than the second highest grade of the working scale.[1][7] The society also inducts graduate students, professors, and non-affiliated personnel.[7]

## Notable members

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* Jan Boxill, chair of the faculty and director of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Parr Center for Ethics
* Daniel Elliott, Kentucky House of Representatives
* Rick Roderick, professor of philosophy, best known for his lectures for The Teaching Company.

## See also

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* Honor society

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VI-70-71. ISBN 978-0963715906.
2. ^ a b c d "Phi Sigma Tau". Association of College Honor Societies. December 30, 2011. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
3. ^ "Phi Sigma Tau Manual" (PDF). Sam Houston State University. September 2003. p. 4. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
4. ^ "Phi Sigma Tau Manual" (PDF). Sam Houston State University. September 2003. p. 19. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
5. ^ a b "Phi Sigma Tau Manual" (PDF). Sam Houston State University. September 2003. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
6. ^ "Phi Sigma Tau Manual" (PDF). Sam Houston State University. September 2003. p. 13. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
7. ^ a b "Phi Sigma Tau Manual" (PDF). Sam Houston State University. September 2003. p. 7. Retrieved 2008-01-20.

## External links

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* National Phi Sigma Tau Website
* Extended PST History

* v
* t
* e

Association of College Honor Societies

Currently active members|

* Alpha Beta Gamma
* Alpha Chi
* Alpha Epsilon
* Alpha Epsilon Delta
* Alpha Epsilon Rho
* Alpha Eta Mu Beta
* Alpha Iota Delta
* Alpha Kappa Delta
* Alpha Kappa Mu
* Alpha Lambda Delta
* Alpha Phi Sigma
* Alpha Pi Mu
* Alpha Sigma Lambda
* Alpha Sigma Mu
* Alpha Sigma Nu
* Beta Gamma Sigma
* Beta Kappa Chi
* Beta Phi Mu
* Chi Sigma Iota
* Delta Epsilon Sigma
* Delta Mu Delta
* Delta Tau Alpha
* Epsilon Pi Tau
* Epsilon Pi Phi
* Gamma Theta Upsilon
* Kappa Mu Epsilon
* Kappa Omicron Nu
* Kappa Tau Alpha
* Lambda Pi Eta
* Lambda Sigma
* Mortar Board
* Mu Kappa Tau
* National Society of Collegiate Scholars
* National Society of Scabbard and Blade
* Omega Chi Epsilon
* Omega Rho
* Omicron Delta Epsilon
* Phi Alpha
* Phi Beta Delta
* Phi Eta Sigma
* Phi Lambda Sigma
* Phi Sigma
* Phi Sigma Iota
* Phi Sigma Tau
* Phi Upsilon Omicron
* Pi Delta Phi
* Pi Gamma Mu
* Pi Kappa Lambda
* Pi Sigma Alpha
* Pi Tau Sigma
* Pi Theta Epsilon
* Psi Beta
* Psi Chi
* Rho Chi
* Sigma Beta Delta
* Sigma Delta Pi
* Sigma Lambda Alpha
* Sigma Lambda Chi
* Sigma Pi Sigma
* Sigma Tau Delta
* Sigma Theta Tau
* Tau Alpha Pi
* Tau Sigma Delta
* Theta Alpha Kappa
* Upsilon Pi Epsilon
* Xi Sigma Pi

Active former members|

| Honor Society Caucus|

* Omicron Delta Kappa
* Phi Beta Kappa
* Phi Kappa Phi
* Sigma Xi

|

* Alpha Delta Mu
* Alpha Omega Alpha
* Chi Epsilon
* Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha (preceded by Delta Sigma Rho and Tau Kappa Alpha)
* Eta Kappa Nu
* Golden Key
* Iota Sigma Pi
* Kappa Delta Pi
* Order of the Coif
* Pi Alpha Alpha
* Pi Omega Pi
* Sigma Gamma Tau
* Tau Beta Pi

Defunct former members|

* Delta Phi Delta
* Lambda Iota Tau
* Omicron Nu
* Sigma Tau

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

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