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Studying Philosphy
- Thread starter crispygoat
- Start date
Word. That's why science > philosophy.
I'm taking intro to logic right now. It's really cool because it's essentially the basis for mathematics. But like someone else said, it's hardly a staple of philosophy.
I want to take more philosphy courses as electives, but physics > philosophy.
That said, it's not so much that people aren't learning enough liberal arts or enough technical stuff. It's that they aren't learning how to think. "Learning" in schools involves rote memorization and regurgitating it on a paper during a test. No original thought. It's amazing how many idiots with degrees there are.
I'm taking intro to logic right now. It's really cool because it's essentially the basis for mathematics. But like someone else said, it's hardly a staple of philosophy.
I want to take more philosphy courses as electives, but physics > philosophy.
That said, it's not so much that people aren't learning enough liberal arts or enough technical stuff. It's that they aren't learning how to think. "Learning" in schools involves rote memorization and regurgitating it on a paper during a test. No original thought. It's amazing how many idiots with degrees there are.
D
LOL, sounds like you guys could use some more philosophy
I take it nobody studies philosophy if they wanna be bridge-constructors!?
I second the guy who said that in many job situations they just require high academic education.
At least over here, you need a master degree, a bachelor will not get you any jobs. But you could consider having a degree in, like, politics. I think you could include quite a bit philosophy in that if you´d like.
Studying literature would get you into some philosophical works, too, such as Lacan, Derrida, Foucault and others.
At least that's what happened to me.
And I loved it!
At least that's what happened to me.
And I loved it!
I'm a philosophy major, and currently in a life crisis because I can't decide whether I'd like to go to law school, which has been my plan for the past three years, or try and get into a graduate program in philosophy.
My suggestion: if you're serious about majoring in philosophy, get into a school with a good department. Yale, for example, is a great school with a terrible department. Pittsburgh is a decent school with a terrific department. Not all decent colleges have good departments. Mine does.
I can't picture myself majoring in anything else. No, philosophy can't do a whole lot of tangible good for society, but then again, neither can really advanced math. You will be made fun of for majoring in it, but it really can be an enlightening experience. Philosophy, probably moreso than any other field, teaches one how to think through problems critically. If you decide that you like the field, but not enough to go to graduate school for it, you can always go to law school, business school, or a political science department, and be among the brightest in your class.
My suggestion: if you're serious about majoring in philosophy, get into a school with a good department. Yale, for example, is a great school with a terrible department. Pittsburgh is a decent school with a terrific department. Not all decent colleges have good departments. Mine does.
I can't picture myself majoring in anything else. No, philosophy can't do a whole lot of tangible good for society, but then again, neither can really advanced math. You will be made fun of for majoring in it, but it really can be an enlightening experience. Philosophy, probably moreso than any other field, teaches one how to think through problems critically. If you decide that you like the field, but not enough to go to graduate school for it, you can always go to law school, business school, or a political science department, and be among the brightest in your class.
I did a degree in Philosophy and Religion many years ago and it was a time when most of the people I knew didn't see a degree as a means to a job - it was rather completing your education and moving on to a greater depth of study!
After all - every PhD is "literally" about the Philosophy of that subject - whether it is in Physics,Maths etc. So at that time , Philosophy was seen as the "core" of every subject - it was the foundation of thinking about that subject - how you approached the subject etc. etc.
So to study Philosophy was to think about and analyse your chosen speciality in greater depth - to study the very foundation and maybe come up with something truly original that added to human knowledge?
Nowadays - it seems everybody is obsessed with money and jobs - I'm glad I was able to study without thinking about what it would get me.
After all - every PhD is "literally" about the Philosophy of that subject - whether it is in Physics,Maths etc. So at that time , Philosophy was seen as the "core" of every subject - it was the foundation of thinking about that subject - how you approached the subject etc. etc.
So to study Philosophy was to think about and analyse your chosen speciality in greater depth - to study the very foundation and maybe come up with something truly original that added to human knowledge?
Nowadays - it seems everybody is obsessed with money and jobs - I'm glad I was able to study without thinking about what it would get me.
When I was thinking of taking literature, I didn't really care about what I would be, where I would work, etc, etc. I just believed that if I took something that I like (and I'm good at), I would have ended well.
That's a very good point and I do think that 20 years or so ago when I took my degree - it was far more a question of what are you good at, what motivates you to study - where are you likely to have an aptitude - rather than - what job is going to make me the most money!
If everybody went for the most money rather than what they're good at - then society would be much poorer and a lot of people would be very disappointed and dissatisfied!
Surely it's better that you know you did your best at what suits you - rather than thinking about chasing money?
I'm a philosophy major, and currently in a life crisis because I can't decide whether I'd like to go to law school, which has been my plan for the past three years, or try and get into a graduate program in philosophy.
My suggestion: if you're serious about majoring in philosophy, get into a school with a good department. Yale, for example, is a great school with a terrible department. Pittsburgh is a decent school with a terrific department. Not all decent colleges have good departments. Mine does.
I can't picture myself majoring in anything else. No, philosophy can't do a whole lot of tangible good for society, but then again, neither can really advanced math. You will be made fun of for majoring in it, but it really can be an enlightening experience. Philosophy, probably moreso than any other field, teaches one how to think through problems critically. If you decide that you like the field, but not enough to go to graduate school for it, you can always go to law school, business school, or a political science department, and be among the brightest in your class.
All the best in discerning what is next !
You may have some space in your General Education requirements to fit in a couple of philosophy courses like I did (PHIL 150 - Critical Thinking and PHIL 312 - Ethics and Morals). This of course depends on the school and their requirements.
What is also important is having a good professor. Many of the TBers who had bad experiences probably had dry teachers that wanted to talk about the "three men stranded at sea in a boat, who should die first?" analogies or talk straight, boring logic.
My 300 level philosophy class was a tremendous eye-opener because we talked about all concepts in relation to current affairs. My professor, Vincent Virom Coppola (Francis Ford Coppola's brother), has a book available here. It's quite a unique and worthwhile read. I also agree that it is a subject you can pursue on your own. To combine two hobbies, read the biography of Victor Lemonte Wooten, it's got tons of spiritual and philosophical viewpoints in it!
What is also important is having a good professor. Many of the TBers who had bad experiences probably had dry teachers that wanted to talk about the "three men stranded at sea in a boat, who should die first?" analogies or talk straight, boring logic.
My 300 level philosophy class was a tremendous eye-opener because we talked about all concepts in relation to current affairs. My professor, Vincent Virom Coppola (Francis Ford Coppola's brother), has a book available here. It's quite a unique and worthwhile read. I also agree that it is a subject you can pursue on your own. To combine two hobbies, read the biography of Victor Lemonte Wooten, it's got tons of spiritual and philosophical viewpoints in it!
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I have an undergrad degree in Philosophy. Always wanted to own a little philosophy shop on the corner. In this day and age when everything is so specialized, it's not a marketable degree. If I had to do it again, I'd minor in philosophy.
What did I use my degree for? Law school cuz I had no 'real' skills like an engineer or psychologist. Kinda like what do you do with a history major ... my minor along with psychology. Now I am the contracts and advertising lawyer who solely supports the advertising and marketing department of a major, global, company with revenue in the billions. Luck? Yes. Timing? Yes. Education? Yes. Philosophy in particular? Who knows.
What did I use my degree for? Law school cuz I had no 'real' skills like an engineer or psychologist. Kinda like what do you do with a history major ... my minor along with psychology. Now I am the contracts and advertising lawyer who solely supports the advertising and marketing department of a major, global, company with revenue in the billions. Luck? Yes. Timing? Yes. Education? Yes. Philosophy in particular? Who knows.
Bruce has it right. If your looking for Job Training, a 4 year Philosophy education is not the place to find it.I did a degree in Philosophy and Religion many years ago and it was a time when most of the people I knew didn't see a degree as a means to a job - it was rather completing your education and moving on to a greater depth of study!
After all - every PhD is "literally" about the Philosophy of that subject - whether it is in Physics,Maths etc. So at that time , Philosophy was seen as the "core" of every subject - it was the foundation of thinking about that subject - how you approached the subject etc. etc.
So to study Philosophy was to think about and analyse your chosen speciality in greater depth - to study the very foundation and maybe come up with something truly original that added to human knowledge?
Nowadays - it seems everybody is obsessed with money and jobs - I'm glad I was able to study without thinking about what it would get me.
It may, on the other hand, help you to read, write and communicate effectively, which should apply to any number of fields, including Law school.
If you want job training, go to a Vocational program. 4 year schools are too much effort and too much money to be exclusively about job training. Training the mind is an ideal of it's own.
North, eh? Maybe they should include mandatory geography classes too
or reading classes!!
crispygoat's location is 12 hours north of toronto (like i said)
This is the attitude of what Bertrand Russell calls "the practical man" (Problems of Philosophy, last chapter). Russell writes: "Even in the existing world, the goods of the mind are at least as important as the goods of the body. It is exclusively among the goods of the mind that the value of philosophy is to be found; and only those who are not indifferent ot these goods can be persuaded that the study of philosophy is not a waste of time."
In answer to an earlier query, I pay the bills by being a professor. (And I pay the bar tab by being a bassist.)
Fine if you want me to be more specific, I live in Hearst, Ontario.
Or to be even MORE then more specific, 964 km (600 miles) north of Toronto which if you add 2 hours for break / food it equals 12 hours. And if you add trafic jams then forever.
And I am 99.99% none of you has ever heard of this town where I could buy a brand new Fender 62 RI for 3400$ ! (1400 on Musician's friend.. 2000$ is not that bad eh?)
if you want more info and consider doing a trip here,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearst,_Ontario !
I took my first B.A. in Philosophy and Religious studies, and have found it invaluable, in both my work and everyday life. Like most four year liberal arts degrees, it'll get your foot in the door in most non-technical industries; i've worked in mental health/developmental services for close to ten years, and loved every minute of it. My second B.A. was in Counseling Psychology, and it is worth far less to me than the critical thinking skills I learned the first time around; and i already had the job.
But, philosophy most likely won't land you a job above lower middle class straight out college: you'll have to grind away and work your way up wherever you go. Frankly, based on the way the job market here is, i'd recommend every philosophy major pick up a business or accounting minor.
For the record, i'm going back again, for nursing. While i'll use and value my phil degree forever, i've got different professional goals than i did when i was 20.
But, philosophy most likely won't land you a job above lower middle class straight out college: you'll have to grind away and work your way up wherever you go. Frankly, based on the way the job market here is, i'd recommend every philosophy major pick up a business or accounting minor.
For the record, i'm going back again, for nursing. While i'll use and value my phil degree forever, i've got different professional goals than i did when i was 20.
lolFine if you want me to be more specific, I live in Hearst, Ontario.
Or to be even MORE then more specific, 964 km (600 miles) north of Toronto which if you add 2 hours for break / food it equals 12 hours. And if you add trafic jams then forever.
And I am 99.99% none of you has ever heard of this town where I could buy a brand new Fender 62 RI for 3400$ ! (1400 on Musician's friend.. 2000$ is not that bad eh?)
if you want more info and consider doing a trip here,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearst,_Ontario !
