<p>It’s just a personal opinion, nothing to get riled up about.</p>
<p>I think almost every major has relevance in some way (You can get a job teaching pretty much anything). I think that majors mentioned by anti may not be the most in-demand (aka trendy) majors right now, but they teach relevant theories or studies. And yeah, technology is obviously advancing, but that doesn’t make it the only important thing.</p>
<p>Sorry to have offended you or whatever, but i’m not going to waste my time trying to convince you that I’m not a “cretin” (which was an incredibly childish thing to say btw).</p>
<p>No try to convince me ■■■■■. Just try. I dare you. Bring it.</p>
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<p>Only that you’re clueless.</p>
<p>Lol. Seriousslllyy guys?? Lol</p>
<p>I’m a freshman currently planning on majoring in Philosophy. So far I’ve taken three courses in very different areas, and I’ve found it to be pretty intellectually rigorous. There is a lot of reading, much of which you will have to go through multiple times before you understand it. This is difficult when you’re strapped for time, and I was very lecture-dependent for the first 3/4 of the year. I’ve also found that philosophy papers are much more challenging than papers in other subjects (I also took English and Sociolinguistics) and that you are generally expected (though not required) to meet with the professor several times per paper, unlike for classes in other subjects. I almost never discussed my papers with my professors in other subjects, but it was a ritual in philosophy. My friends in other majors thought I was just really needy. Also, you will meet some intimidatingly intelligent people, especially when you get into upper division philosophy.</p>
<p>There are no concrete career skills that come with philosophy, but you will be a God-like problem-solver by the time you’re done. I don’t think it is important to worry about your career when choosing a major unless you have a real passion for something highly skill-based. If you’re not married to the idea of being an engineer, then even if you could force yourself to complete an engineering degree you’d probably find yourself doing something else eventually anyway. Most people on here don’t even know what they are talking about when they mock philosophy majors because they are just regurgitating the stereotypes they hear everywhere. For some reason, it’s really hard for people to keep it to themselves and resist the urge to sneer at someone else’s burger-flipping potential. Both of my parents majored in “useless” subjects, both of them are successfully self-employed, and they are putting me through college as we speak. I would say they are just as happy as passionate engineers and doctors, and definitely happier than people who forced themselves to be engineers or doctors.</p>
<p>^
I so agree with you about people on here regurgitating stereotypes. I think some of the responses in this thread are testament to that. </p>
<p>Do you have a career in mind, though? I am interested in what one could do or would want to do after studying philosophy.</p>
<p>Wow thank you so much CurseItToHades! (interesting name lol). But anyways, I want to take philosophy because I’m reaalllyyyyy interested in the law field. Even though I do want to go to Law School after undergrad, I haven’t decided if I want to be a lawyer, because I like the idea of being a diplomat or working for the UN. In either case, I feel like philosophy would help me a lot because I’ll learn to argue clearly and have good problem-solving skills, etc. All that good stuff. And I especially like that it’s intellectually rigorous.</p>
<p>“Traditionally these questions are for philosophy, but philosophy is dead. Philosophy has not kep up with modern development in science, particularly physics. Scientists have become the bearers of the torch in our quest for knowledge.”</p>
<p>Stephen Hawking</p>
<p>(or Leonard Mlodinow, idk who wrote what parts)</p>
<p>^
Your point?</p>
<p>MLD- of course Stephen Hawking would say that; he’s a scientiest himself. But that doesn’t answer my question anyway.</p>
<p>I actually do have a career in mind. I am hoping to start a freelance graphic design business. I’ve already had one job, and I’m hoping to get more this summer. If I can get this off the ground in college I will have zero qualms about pursuing philosophy.</p>
<p>Also, if you are nervous about the job prospects of majoring in philosophy, consider minoring in CS or business or something if you think having some solid skills would make you feel more secure. Philosophy is a really tiny major at my school (maybe the tiniest) so I’m considering double minoring, although I’m not sure in what yet.</p>
<p>As for law school, it’s something I always know is there, but am not seriously considering at this point. However, I can tell you that I took an introductory normative ethics class this semester, and all I could think the whole time was, “This will be so helpful if I decide to go to law school.” Philosophy demands that you learn to both argue logically and argue both sides of the issue MULTIPLE times back and forth. So yeah, if you want to do law, I recommend philosophy for sure. I recommend a double with or minor in polisci, as well. PoliSci will give you the historical and factual background you need, but philosophy will give you the skills.</p>
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<p>Hope you’ll excuse me for laughing at this, but i’m practically on the floor… I mean I don’t get it, if you want to start a graphic design biz, why not major in graphic design? Or at LEAST double major in design and philosophy or better yet design and something like CompSci.</p>
<p>Because your major has no bearing on career prospects. When you graduate highschool, you might start to get a grip on how the world actually works.</p>
<p>Here’s an anecdote for yours: My friend from HS Majored in Philosophy, and is working for a hedge fund now. Gasp!</p>
<p>^
^
That’s a valid question. I don’t see the situation as ROFL funny, but whatever.</p>
<p>^
That’s true. It’s all about how you apply yourself. Unless you have a major in something like engineering or nursing, nothing is set in stone. And even then you can go down a completely different path.</p>
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<p>And here’s an anecdote for you: i’m graduating soon from a T20 University with a degree in bioengineering. Also, that’s anecdotal evidence, as you acknowledge and an obvious anomaly. You can’t graduate with a degree in phil and <em>expect</em> to become a hedge fund manager or <em>expect</em> to be able to operate a successful startup.</p>
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<p>That goes for pretty much every major.</p>
<p>Granted, but obviously more some than others. An engineer can practically do anything because of his extremely broad range of skills and most do very well right after undergrad, most philosophy majors either go to law school or work low-paying, dead end jobs.</p>
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</p>
<ol>
<li>Citation needed.</li>
<li>“An engineer can practically do anything because of his extremely broad range of skills.” Engineers can’t write for ****. I don’t see many getting jobs in advertising, sales, etc.</li>
</ol>
<p>
Citation needed. And anyway, by this logic, anyone who does not have a college education/is not yet in college also can’t write for *</em></strong> (because apparently writing ability isn’t something that can be learned extracurricularly). </p>
<p>
Right, because they don’t apply for those jobs. If you’re sure you want a job in advertising, then obviously don’t major in engineering. All I’m saying is that an engineer probably could handle the tasks required to do many other jobs related to biology, physics, mathematics, chemistry, and so on.</p>