Why Study Philosophy?
Most students entering university are unfamiliar with philosophy. Although high school students are intellectually capable of studying philosophy, they are seldom given the opportunity. Consequently, the students' impressions about philosophy --- impressions widespread in our society --- are often uninformed or misinformed. They may well wonder what are good reasons to study philosophy. Here are some possible reasons:
- Philosophy helps us understand that things are not always what they seem.
- Philosophy helps us learn about ourselves and the world. It teaches us how to grapple intelligently with basic questions such as:
- "Who am I?"
- "Does God exist?"
- "How should I live?"
- "Should I do what society tells me to do?"
- "Can I be sure of any of my beliefs?"
- "Does my life have meaning?"
- "Are values just a matter of opinion?"
- "What is the nature of mind, language, and thought?"
- Philosophy makes us more critical. It shows us that what we take for granted may be false -- or only part of the truth.
- Philosophy develops our ability:
- to reason clearly
- to distinguish between good and bad arguments
- to think and write clearly
- see the big picture
- to look at different views and opinions
These skills are highly prized by employers and by graduate and professional schools. They are never outdated. They enrich our lives and our relationships. By studying the writings of great philosophers we see the extent to which philosophy has influenced science, religion, government, education and art.
Philosophy empowers us to critically examine our views and the views of others. Occasionally this leads us to reject our "inherited" views; however, it should always give us new and creative ways to deal with problems we could not otherwise solve.
Will Philosophy Help Me Get A Job?
Philosophy is central to a liberal education. It is also immensely practical. Many employers seek workers with a background in philosophy --- providing they also have the requisite technical skills. It is not difficult to see why.
Philosophy majors as a group had a higher mean score on the GRE Verbal Section than students in any other major. Only philosophy majors were 5% or more above the mean on all the following tests:
- LSAT (law)
- GMAT (graduate management)
- GRE (Graduate Record Exam) Verbal CRE Quantitative
Some philosophy majors go to graduate school in philosophy. Most, though, pursue careers in other fields: law, medicine, government, computer science, publishing, public administration, etc. -- any field which requires clear thinking. More specifically, a major or minor in philosophy would be helpful in any of the following fields:
- BUSINESS: insurance, publishing, advertising, computer programming, consulting, investment banking, marketing, technical writing
- GOVERNMENT: public administration, diplomacy, human services, intelligence, policy analysis
- JOURNALISM: editing, free-lance writing, literary and film criticism
- LAW: legal journalism, criminal justice, law practice, legal aid, legal research, paralegal assistance
- MEDICINE: consulting, hospital administration, medical practice, nursing
- THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES: private and public administration, theater production, creative writing
- OTHER: education, administration, computer science, library administration
Let's be more specific. Click to see the kinds of people who have majored in philosophy.
Other links to articles on the merits of a formal education in philosophy include:
- University of Louisiana on "Why Study Philosophy?"
- Texas A&M on "Why Study Philosophy?"
- New York Times article on what to do with a degree in Philosophy
- London Times article on Philosophy as a modern discipline
- American Philosophical Association data on Philosophy as a profession
- American Philosophical Association on the Philosophy major
(Acknowledgements: ideas for the above have been adapted from a brochure by Daniel Kolak)