<p>I for the life of me cannot choose a major. Luckily, I do not have to limit myself to one but I can afford a few (never had a social life). This is a question I have honestly been going back and forth on for my entire senior year but have reached no conclusion.</p>
<p>I am going to the University of Oregon</p>
<p>A little about myself...</p>
<p>I like to write.
I like to think.
I like to know stuff.
I like to learn languages.
I like to read. I am a purist in many forms and for example will not read Tolstoy in anything else besides Russian and Hegel in anything else besides German.
I have no career aspirations but to wander wide with wisdom and discover meaning and find great conclusions.
Probably live somewhere natural/secluded. My inspirations are James Joyce and Christopher Mccandless.</p>
<p>I cannot decide between English, History, Philosophy, German and Russian (the languages of, in my opinion, the most artistic and intellectual people as a whole- besides French- but their history is not nearly as interesting as Germany or Russian).</p>
<p>Punish? I haven’t read it but I see what you mean. I started it after reading Ulysses but then got scared away. It simply isn’t meant to be read like Ulysses or any “conventional” novel.</p>
<p>I’m horrible at math and definitely want a liberal science/humanities.</p>
<p>Ever took a look at formal logic in philosophy? If you like that you should enjoy similar logic/proof classes in math.</p>
<p>The reason I recommend it is that math is one of the few subject where you can actually be sure about things. Conclusions are much harder to find in other majors. I don’t think people can really conclude much in, say, philosophy or literature. </p>
<p>Same thing with meaning and wisdom… I don’t think you can find meaning and wisdom without have some good understanding of how the world, as we know it, works, and you’ll understand it a lot better through math and science. To me, wisdom without these attributes is no wisdom at all.</p>
<p>Science focuses on the tangible. I am a very abstract person. I believe in irrationality guiding the world which has no fixed order and is just random events-- that is, until existentialist and humanistic resolves assert.</p>
<p>I was referring to conclusions regarding eternal questions such as Time and Spirit. There are no conclusions per se but individual interpretations which may perhaps be “conclusive.” Although if you’re “done” searching than you really haven’t searched enoough.</p>
<p>Look for colleges that offer a PPE degree (Politics, Philosophy, Economics) such as Pomona or go to one of the schools with a Great Books program such as St. John’s College (they have 2 campuses in NM & MD) or Shimer College in Chicago. Another option is Bennington College in Vermont- Liberal arts 15-7-15 calendar, which includes a 7-wk winter work term, no core curriculum, & you do not declare a major. Instead you consult with your advisor to put together an interdisciplinary academic plan that fits your needs.</p>
<p>Even looked at quantum physics? They have ideas there that will appeal to you. </p>
<p>But even if you’re abstract, I don’t believe in abstraction existing in isolation of the tangible. I think a better understanding of the universe will allow you to refine your own abstractions far better. There’s a great tradition of philosopher-scientists. If your true goal is to better understand the world, math and science would help a lot.</p>
<p>OK, OK I agree with you, man. I remember writing an English paper and discussing Einstein’s Theory of Relativitiy as part of how this guy’s perspective changed in the darkness, The problem is, that gives me now six majors to think about. But I really, really am awful at math. Doesn’t quantum physics have a lot of calculus.</p>
<p>Have you thought about linguistics?
You sound very similar to me, and I’m planning to double major in linguistics and Russian (I love philosophy as well, but unfortunately it doesn’t really have any lucrative careers unless you plan on going to law school).
In case you don’t already know, linguistics is the scientific study of language. It deals with various aspects (grammar, meaning, morphology) as well as structure of languages (you could focus on German and/or Russian) and studies the social and historical context of the language(s). As you can probably see, it’s very interdisciplinary. Linguistics touches on philosophy, psychology, anthropology, history, and even computer science.
Other than that, philosophy, English, and German/Russian all seem to suit you. That means you could be a lawyer, professor, teacher, or translator/interpreter.</p>
<p>EDIT:
I also love German and Russian language and culture. I practically worship Nietzsche and Dostoevsky. I agree they are the most beautiful and intellectual peoples, followed by French, Greeks, and Italians.</p>
<p>It’s too scientific but thanks, Yeah I am really looking forward to working to both abandon the English language and have access to the great German and Russian writers and filmmakers and German philosophers and the challenge of trying to learn then well. I thought about French too but the language is just disgustingly beautiful and the history isn’t as interesting.</p>
<p>why don’t you become a translator? like for the united nations when they have their big annual meetings they have a translator who says the stuff in other languages so the foreigners can understand. or you could be a translator in another country and get to travel everywhere.</p>
<p>classics… it includes some philosophy and myths. and you’ll get to read some latin and greek stuff in their original languages. and it has no definitive career path! haha</p>
<p>Is it really necessary to major in English in order to become a better reader? I read already a lot on my own and am wary of being barreled down by Shakespeare (there are other great writers, not that I don’t like him a lot because I do) and post modern stuff like Salinger and Keruoac who I don’t really like.</p>
<p>If you are just trying to decide between different humanities majors then it really doesn’t matter as long as you enjoy what you’re learning. You’re career options will probably be the same.</p>