5 Reasons to Major in Philosophy

http://www.criticalthinkeracademy.com http://www.criticalthinkerpodcast.com

Philosophy has a reputation for being an impractical major. In this video I show why this view is mistaken.

Why major in philosophy? Here are five reasons I discuss in the video:
1. It has intrinsic value.
2. It's what a liberal arts education ought to be.
3. Employers are looking for these skills.
4. Your income expectations are higher than you might think.
5. It's the ideal springboard degree.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• philosophy
• liberal arts
• liberal education
• lsat
• gmat
• mcat
• gre
• philosophy major

[TheEvaAngelina]

I have a question I can't answer maybe you can. Why is doing the right thing to do the right thing to do when it comes to anything like morality. And what makes doing the right thing to do the right thing to do?

[PhilosophyFreak]

@TheEvaAngelina That's, like, the definition of a Big Philosophical Question :) People have been writing about this for 2500 years at least. If I could write a good, compelling answer to that question down in 400 characters I would (and I'd sell an awful lot of t-shirts :) )

[PhilosophyFreak]

re: the "no jobs" objection. Are there jobs advertised for undergrad philosophy majors? No. But neither are there jobs advertised for undergrad English, history, psychology or sociology majors. In that respect most undergrad liberal arts and social science majors (and natural science majors, frankly) are in the same boat. The degree gets you past a first round of screening filters, that's it. After that it's about your skills and experience.

[gjsterp]

I was just thinking about this last night.

Why do schools not show children why it is beneficial to act ethically, aside from religious dogma. There are very real reasons for people to act ethically, and this should be taught to young children, and not just give them rules to follow. Show them why it is good for everyone to follow rules.

[PhilosophyFreak]

@gjsterp Schools are sort of terrified of teaching ethics in any substantive way, in my experience. Mostly they're worried about parent complaints. To make this work you've got to invest some time in educating the parents about exactly what's being taught and why it's being taught. The other problem is that teachers often don't feel qualified to teach this.

[ThorTheScienceGuy]

From what I´ve presently seen your videos cover a lot of concepts that I think very actively about, and am frustrated to see being overseen so often. BECAUSE I care about clarity and logic much of the philosophy-education I´ve gotten has been frustrating. Clearly faulty logic and absurd axioms from ancient philosophers are treated as respectable opinions. Imagine if e.g. the theories about projectile motion given by Newton and Aristotle were presented in the same unconcluding manner.

[PhilosophyFreak]

@ThorTheScienceGuy It is a shame that philosophy so rarely shows its head in high school (where you'd think at least one critical thinking course would be mandatory, but even that isn't required). It's not a cure-all, studying philosophy by itself isn't going to change the world. But it's important, and you'd think that high school graduates would at least have SOME idea what it's about. But most of my college freshman students have never been exposed to any of this. I don't get it.

[TheSchimmi]

At first, philosophy seems like something 'outside' of everyday life. And then you start to see how every single second of your existence is philosophy.

Philosophy is secretly everything.

[jonaslbjerke]

Thanks for creating this video. I've been studiying philosophy for about two years now, and all the time I'm being told things like "yeah, I guess your only choice is to become a teacher or lecturer or something like that". I usually don't accept these kinds of statemenets, but now I actually know them to be empirically incorrect. Some of these facts will also help convince my mom I'm doing the right thing. Haha

Greetings from Norway

[prep4md]

How can I learn philosophy now as a medical graduate? Could I learn independently?

[vellocent]

Great argument Sir!

[123ilovefrog]

I am convinced.



[jordandaniels7]

I havent finished the video yet, but I think a 6th reason is that with this degree you can make an argument as well as this and organize it so well.

*Slow, tearful round of applause*

[MayhemFan666]

@Mofostrobujo Any books you reccomend? Im still considering it as a major.

[ItsSnottyBee]

I am beginning university here in Sydney Australia and am going to be studying law. However here you must combine your law degree with something... so i chose ARTS..

now i was going to take a business major... but a few things put me off.

So than i came across this... (You see i had this really bright english teacher in year 12 who studied philosophy and he really inspired me)

Phillosophy seems like it will really give me an 'intellectual edge' in law. Would you agree ? Thats my question.

[WE2much]

nice video. you interested us and made us curious, made us think. not strain the brain but think. i like it, you did a great job.

[Tonemysterme]

@genre926 oh wow man... I'm the same way I am currently a Music Major but can not stand it. While here I am with stacks of books with titles like "Philosophy for Dummies" "The art of war" "philosophy of existence" "understanding modern philosophy" etc. nearly crying wishing I would have the balls to switch my major but worried I wont gain any "financial" value. Its awfull I know for a fact philosophy is my calling...