<p>What do you actually do in a philosophy class? </p>
<p>Write papers (about what?)</p>
<p>In-class essays?</p>
<p>Explain, please. :-) </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>What type of philosophy class do you want to know about?</p>
<p>The answers going vary a lot on it (are you talking just intro level "history of" classes? Symbolic logic? Metaphysics?).</p>
<p>I'm sort of interested in majoring in it....seems interesting.</p>
<p>Just in general, or like a synopsis of each type.</p>
<p>I'm a philosophy major, and there really isn't a way to sum it up. Philosophy covers such a huge range of topics (basically every topic there is to think about). As I'm sure you know, the word itself means "love of knowledge", and indeed, that is what philosophy seeks. I think it is immensely interesting and rewarding. Studying philosophy will help your critical thinking and writing skills in a huge way.
Yes, the typical philosophy class involves a lot of reading and writing. But some I have taken have involved no reading or writing to speak of. Logic, for example, involves learning about forms of reasoning and the structure of language, as well as quantificational and modal logic systems.</p>
<p>If you are interested in philosophy, may I recommend that you read a book called "Sophie's World" - It is a history of the major themes in philosophy in a novel form.</p>
<p>My teacher told us that, technically in the greek, it actually is "Befriender of knowledge."</p>
<p>Basically, I'm seconding Icarus' advice.</p>
<p>now, what do you do with a philosophy major? I've taken and enjoyed philosphy classes, but i can't possibly think of something i'd do with a BA in philosophy (besides teach more philosophy). enlighten me!</p>
<p>Well what can you do with other majors, when you think of it?</p>
<p>I 2nd glucose's comment. I also agree with other comments about the content of philosophy classes. Lots of reading, discussion/debate & writing. My S is currently taking a Wittgenstein seminar that meets once a week for 3 hours. There are 12 students in the class who spend each 3 hour class dissecting W's work w/ the professor acting only as the best read participant.</p>
<p>I, unfortunately, was a business major. I still remember my Contemporary Morals prof seeing my banking text sitting on my desk and commenting "learning a trade, huh?" Still stings 30 years later.</p>
<p>Majoring in philosophy should teach one how to think critically if nothing else, providing a first class ******** detector. Knowledge is power and being able to cut through the fog of nonsense that tends to obscure many issues that one faces in life is pretty valuable. Besides teaching philosophy or actually philosophizing oneself, philosophy should provide a great foundation for law, politics, and any discipline requiring thinking outside the box, to beat on an overused phrase.</p>
<p>i am also interested in philosophy, but my parents hate it and they are saying they won't pay me to go study philosophy. when they asked me what can you do with philosophy major, i could not answer their question. still i find that subject very interesting and the critical thinking and writing ability can help me in any career i choose, i believe. thank you guys for imputs. i think once i go to college i will at least minor in philosophy.</p>
<p>
[quote]
now, what do you do with a philosophy major?
[/quote]
this question is often asked about liberal-arts majors such as this. And the answer is ... nothing!!</p>
<p>Well, not exactly. The point I want to make is that many people confuse college with vocational training. And truth be told there are some vocational majors in the colleges. Education, nursing, education, accounting, journalism, and a few others come to mind. Ask someone in these programs what they'll do after graduation and the answer is clear.</p>
<p>Liberal art majors, by contrast, are not trained for a career. What you emerge with to sell to employers is potential. This is where the game gets a bit unfair. Employers don't assess the potential of every student the same. The more reputable your school, the more likely employers are to have some interest. Hence the obsession you see with Ivy, top LAC, and similar colleges isn't entirely unfounded.</p>
<p>Almost ANY career field is open to the liberal-arts grad outside of the ones that require specific training (engineering, nursing, etc), and for almost all of these you could go to grad school anyway if you really wanted. That's why books like "jobs for the english major" are too limiting; you can do almost anything with a liberal arts major, not just something putatively related to it.</p>
<p>Of course this begs the question of HOW to get into those fields, and thats a whole 'nother post. Suffice it to say that you really need to pursue two things as a student; your studies, and preparation for a career. You need to work with the career center to identify & explore interests, and internships are the KEY to landing a good job.</p>
<p>When your parents ask, siera, you may want to give them this: a list of famous and successful folks who majored in philosophy in college. Hopefully, after they read this, they'll realize you'll be in good company:</p>
<p>and an even longer list (needs adobe to open):
<a href="http://www.phil.stmarytx.edu/majors/philnote.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.phil.stmarytx.edu/majors/philnote.pdf</a></p>
<p>That first list of philosophy majors is misleading, a good chunk of them are people who claimed philosophy as their major and either didn't graduate or switched majors. The second list is much better, food for thought. (even though I despise philosophy at this point of my life...)</p>
<p>Well, for those of you who want to study it and need an excuse, philosophy is the number 1 major admitted to law school.</p>
<p>What are tests?</p>
<p>Like papers in-class, out -out of class?</p>
<p>Again it depends on the class. Yes, most of them are writing tests. I'm taking upper division (advanced) courses right now. For one of my classes, the grade is 50% midterm and 50% final, each of which is an 8-10 page paper. The other one is 40/60 midterm/final, both of which are in-class essay/short answer. But my logic class had no writing whatsoever - the tests involved solving logic problems like truth tables and such.</p>
<p>Gladdad and mikemac are right - you can do almost anything with a philosophy major, and what you have to offer is the amazing critical thinking and other such skills you will have. I am going to do med school after I finish up my philosophy degree. Law school is another very popular choice for philosophy majors.</p>