NationStates Jolt Archive

I've recently replaced political science with philosophy as my desired major for when I begin college. However, I'm still not entirely sure what philosophy is all about. I've read all I possibly could on wikipedia but still desire to learn more.

Anyone have any insight on philosophy? Anyone majored in it?

Well... My whole semester of High School Philosophy would reply: "The question 'What is philosophy?', is, itself, a definitive philosophical question."

In general, philosophy attempts to answer the questions 'what is true?' and 'what is moral?' It can focus on everything from the nature of existence (Descarte, Berkeley, Sartre, etc.), to political issues (Bentham, Mill, Locke, and the French Rationalists).

My philosophy teacher put it in terms of the Matrix, with the whole "Red pill, Blue pill" choice. Philosophy is choosing to turn away from the wall of the cave and seek the truth on issues where the truth is not simple or definitive in any way.

Well... My whole semester of High School Philosophy would reply: "The question 'What is philosophy?', is, itself, a definitive philosophical question."

In general, philosophy attempts to answer the questions 'what is true?' and 'what is moral?' It can focus on everything from the nature of existence (Descarte, Berkeley, Sartre, etc.), to political issues (Bentham, Mill, Locke, and the French Rationalists).

My philosophy teacher put it in terms of the Matrix, with the whole "Red pill, Blue pill" choice. Philosophy is choosing to turn away from the wall of the cave and seek the truth on issues where the truth is not simple or definitive in any way.

So, it's all thinking, right? Building upon centuries of human thought and development and reasoning?

I'm not too sure about degree structures in the US, but over here, you can tailor a philosophy course to your interests pretty well. I majored in politics/international studies but you could feasibly link political science and philosophy together if you wanted to.


So, it's all thinking, right? Building upon centuries of human thought and development and reasoning?

Yeah, and you'll probably be thinking out 3000 word essays, same as with a politics degree. :p Most of it is looking at and interpreting the ideas of various thinkers, but I only did one philosophy class, so meh.

I think I'm still listed as majoring in philosophy because I had no clue when I started but had to pick something to put on the form. The major will change though. I've done papers in logic which is basically maths and philosophy colliding and in ethics which made me think a bit, but didn't stand out in any way. I haven't done any phil beyond 100 level and don't really plan to.

I'm still not entirely sure what philosophy is all about.

Philosophy is the "love of wisdom". Its major branches are metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, politics, and aesthetics. Being a philosopher means asking questions, and offering defensible arguments, on these issues.

Here is a short article that brings it into focus.

What is Philosophy? (http://www.atlassociety.org/cth-32-409-FAQ_Philosophy.aspx)

Good luck with your career in philosophy! :)

Look, people might hate me for it...but read Sophie's World (http://www.amazon.com/Sophies-World-about-History-Philosophy/dp/0425152251). Great little book, not so much explaining philosophers, but perhaps explaining philosophy as an idea.

I've recently replaced political science with philosophy as my desired major for when I begin college. However, I'm still not entirely sure what philosophy is all about. I've read all I possibly could on wikipedia but still desire to learn more.

Anyone have any insight on philosophy? Anyone majored in it?

One of the major fields of PoliSci is political philosophy/theory, and it was my concentration in my poli sci major. I also did a sprinkling of other philosophy courses (logic, ethics, an overview of Chinese philosophy, and an overview of Japanese philosophy).

The logic course dealt mostly with symbolic logic, which I didn't care for too much. ethics was fun - the discussions were similar to the rare good debates here.

I'm not too sure about degree structures in the US, but over here, you can tailor a philosophy course to your interests pretty well. I majored in politics/international studies but you could feasibly link political science and philosophy together if you wanted to.

Indeed you can do more than feasably link them. My poli sci degree, as I mentioned above, was heavily loaded with theory course work - more than half of my poli sci classes - with the rest being in IR and comparative (with the exception of the intro reasearch methods course that I was required to take, and was surprisingly useful).


Yeah, and you'll probably be thinking out 3000 word essays, same as with a politics degree. :p Most of it is looking at and interpreting the ideas of various thinkers, but I only did one philosophy class, so meh.

Occassionally you do get to apply it. For example, my Constitutional Design course, being taught in the theory sub-department, drew heavily on previous theory courses.

philosophy is a fascinating subject.

the problem with majoring in philosophy is that somewhere along the line they are going to expect you to DO philosophy.

that means original thought, excellent writing skills and the ability to defend your position.

What career do you plan on getting out of philosophy? If you're into politics, I would go for PoliSci first...philosophy as a minor or whatever.

I'm minoring in philosophy.

I find that it's kinda like science, minus the empirical testing of theories and maths.

Also, the philosophy profs at my school are lazy, so the biggest essay I've written is like 2,000 words or something.

Indeed you can do more than feasably link them. My poli sci degree, as I mentioned above, was heavily loaded with theory course work - more than half of my poli sci classes - with the rest being in IR and comparative (with the exception of the intro reasearch methods course that I was required to take, and was surprisingly useful).

Mine also, but the philosophical type politics subjects weren't affiliated with a philosophy major.

Occassionally you do get to apply it. For example, my Constitutional Design course, being taught in the theory sub-department, drew heavily on previous theory courses.

Hm. I never got to apply anything during my course. I wish I had, because now i'm stuck with my only skill acquired at university being that I can now write theoretical essays at a university level.

Ugh :p

I find that it's kinda like science, minus the empirical testing of theories and maths.

Yeah, it really is a methodological investigation of whatever subject you're focusing on. The only downside is that there is no such thing as a right answer, only a better defended one.

Philosophy is ace. My favourite subject at school (IMO, a short course on philosophy, including an introduction to Logic, should be compulsary in all high schools), and my choice at Uni; my ‘major’ as Americans would call it.

Philosophers are literally ‘lovers of knowledge’, and very generally philosophy is an investigation into ways of thinking about ourselves and the world around us. It is an incredibly wide subject, underpinning most, if not all, other academic subjects. This, to me, is one of the most exciting things about philosophy; you can take it in any direction you please, and any education you undertake can be propped up and furthered by philosophy.

Moral philosophy, political philosophy, philosophy of mind (leading on to cognitive science and AI), philosophy of knowledge (epistemology), philosophy of art, philosophy of science, logic, philosophy of history, philosophy of religion.... the list goes on.

Philo is my minor, I mainly take classes on ethical theory, justice theories, value theory, &c &c.

What is it about? Looking at the justifications for things, in a broad sense, and trying to determine what, if anything, is best justified rationally.

Don't worry about your university major unless you're already a sophomore, you don't need to pick until your junior year.

Yeah, it really is a methodological investigation of whatever subject you're focusing on. The only downside is that there is no such thing as a right answer, only a better defended one.
Yeah, that is the downside.

Look, people might hate me for it...but read Sophie's World (http://www.amazon.com/Sophies-World-about-History-Philosophy/dp/0425152251). Great little book, not so much explaining philosophers, but perhaps explaining philosophy as an idea.*hates you for it*
Honestly, that book was a flop. Anything that markets itself as a novel shouldn't be stack of essays with a flimsy frame story and tacky writing.

*hates you for it*
Honestly, that book was a flop. Anything that markets itself as a novel shouldn't be stack of essays with a flimsy frame story and tacky writing.

Well, which kid would you pick, and why?

*hates you for it*
Honestly, that book was a flop. Anything that markets itself as a novel shouldn’t be stack of essays with a flimsy frame story and tacky writing.
I agree it’s a fairly dud novel, but as a very basic introduction to philosophy, it’s alright.

Well, which kid would you pick, and why?Science of Discworld II has a few good philosophical insights. (It's in a large part philosophy of mind)

Well, which kid would you pick, and why?I'm not making constructive suggestions. I'm merely compalining loudly about books I disliked enough to fling away before I finished reading them.

Simon Blackburn’s Think is a much better place to start.