PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy

Why do human beings imagine philosophically?

As one might expect, the answer is neither singular, nor simple, but the beginning of a complex study of the manifold depth of human consciousness the end of which is transformation.  While there are and have been many philosophers for whom the task of philosophical thought is strictly the search for verifiable criteria of meaning, most philosophers and philosophical traditions in human history have been focused on the quest for higher states of consciousness.  Thus, to imagine ourselves philosophically is to creatively interpret our experience(s) of being in the world as a journey from delusion to a new state of awareness.

What, then, is the vocational element in the study of philosophy?

Originally, vocation, from the Latin vocare: “to call,” had nothing to do with what we mean today by vocation as job.  To respond to “a call” is to heed the inner demand for the experience of Truth.  It has nothing whatsoever to do with scraping out a living in an adversarial society.  Rather than putting philosophy (which, incidentally, can be translated from the Greek philos and sophia, as “the love of wisdom”) on a pedestal and confining it to an ivory tower, the study of philosophy is an integral part of awakening to our humanity.  Rather than being seen as an elite program of study, philosophy in its everyday mode is the way human beings come to understand who they are and where they are in the present thereby making a future possible.  Philosophy, therefore, is a primary human activity.

But can I get a job majoring in philosophy?

In the June 23, 1981 edition of The New York Times, it is written, “businessmen are coming to appreciate an education that at its best produces graduates who can write and think clearly and solve problems.”  While a college degree may get your foot in the door as a minimal requirement, it is not a necessary or sufficient condition for maintaining, succeeding, or advancing in that job.  The above quote points out what it takes to demonstrate performative competence: writing, thinking, and solving problems.  While it is hoped that all one’s classes in college develop these abilities, the liberal arts in general and philosophy in particular are the locus perennis for such activities.  The study of philosophy, while not limited to what Noam Chomsky has termed philosophy as “intellectual self-defense” or the acquisition of exoteric skills, provides the opportunity to develop:

·         Reasoning: through the study and application of formal and
  informal logic, critical thinking, and decision making.

·         Interpretation: through the study and application of
  analytical tools of reasoning.

·         Communication: through the study and application of writing
  and speaking skills.

·         Inquiry: through the questioning/interrogation of the primary
  elements of human being: self, society, nature, ideas,
  experience, and temporality.

The following is a brief list of on-line resources that offer more information and guidance in making the decision to study philosophy:

The American Philosophy Association has a brief guide for philosophy undergraduates which discusses the various sub-disciplines of philosophy as well as the uses of philosophy in academic and non-academic careers. The site can be accessed at http://www.apa.udel.edu/apa/publications/texts/briefgd.html

The Transylvania University Philosophy Department has a nice overview of the things you can do with a philosophy degree, with links to pages about how philosophy can prepare one for the pre-med or pre-law academic track. Visit them at http://homepages.transy.edu/~philosophy/careers.html

One of the best guides to philosophy in cyberspace, along with a philosophy search engine called HIPPIAS, can be found at
http://www-personal.monash.edu.au/~dey/phil/

A rather extensive list of possible non-academic careers for philosophy majors can be viewed at http://www.louisville.edu/a-s/philosophy/nonacad.htm

The Portland State University Career Center has an excellent web page entitled “Career Center & Internet Resources for Philosophy Majors.”  Visit them at www.career.pdx.edu/majorphilosophy.html

The University of Florida has an interesting “Career Handbook for Philosophy Majors” at www.phil.ufl.edu/ugrad/ugcrhbk.html

Go to www.philosophical-services.com/register/Search.asp for an extensive website with databases

For a humorous view of majoring in philosophy see a Doonesbury cartoon at www.members.aol.com/lshauser/mrbuttx4.html