<p>Title says it all.</p>
<p>philosophy isn’t an easy subject and i always thought it was the hardest of the liberal arts classes I took because it emphasizes logical reasoning, whereas with other classes you can bs by cramming and memorizing. it’s not really a popular major so I guess it draws people who are maybe a little more unique and chose it over similar, more common subjects like history or politics. it also attracts a lot of preLaw students, which makes sense since law school and philosophy both require strong reading/writing/analytical skills.
also, seems like every philosophy major i’ve met is either really smart, or a pretentious hipster type. but that may have to do with the type of people my college attracts :]</p>
<p>Contrarily, I didn’t find philosophy that difficult, compared to some other liberal arts courses. Political science and economics are tougher. Philosophy is basically just simple logical reasoning and analysis, which most people with an IQ over 100 should have little/no trouble with.</p>
<p>I have a lot of respect for philosophy majors. It takes a lot of guts to take that major in today’s world where philosophers just don’t get the same kind of respect that they used to lol. If you are a philosophy major (and stick with it) then you are really following what you want to do because it isn’t like there is a high demand for philosophers. </p>
<p>I do think it is a pretty difficult major because it forces you to think in a whole new way. In our society, the most important thing to find is the answer. However, in a philosophy major, the answer is not nearly as important as the question and that is tough to completely change one’s paradigm to realize that.</p>
<p>Every single philosophy major I know is planning on going to law school, same goes for all the people I know that are studying history. Sometimes you might think they are passionate future academics but in reality philosophy majors often get the best scores on the LSAT.</p>
<p>I have the same associations with a philosophy major as with most other humanities majors - “I am glad someone else is interested in it, so that I don’t have to bother.” </p>
<p>Well, to be honest, I think of philosophy majors as not very smart, but that’s probably because the major is so watered down at my college. I am always surprised when I see junior and senior philosophy majors struggle in Discrete Math. “Wait, shouldn’t you know the propositional logic stuff inside out?”</p>
<p>As Bill O’Reilly says - “Stoned slackers.”</p>
<p>Lol who cares what people think.</p>
<p>Respect. Depends on the college, but I’d say with a good department it’s definitely one of the harder majors.</p>
<p>Also, some of the smartest people I know are philosophy majors.</p>
<p>It depends upon which school of philosophy you’re talking about. The sort of student that gravitates towards analytic philosophy is markedly different from the student who is attracted to continental philosophy. Granted, there aren’t many continental philosophy departments left in the u.s.</p>
<p>Analytic types tend to have mathematical minds, enjoy syllogistic logic, and view philosophy as being limited in its scope. Analytic philosophy tends to disregard ethics and metaphysics in favor of the philosophy of language and mathematical rigor. </p>
<p>Continental philosophy attracts students with intuitive minds who tend to view the world in a poetic way. They concern themselves primarily with modern and late modern german and french thinkers (Kant, Rousseau, Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Sartre, Derrida, and all sorts of other names that I can’t spell properly). Existentialism, romanticism, and idealism are unique to this school of philosophy.</p>
<p>Philosophy, like it or not, is the trunk from which every other area of human inquiry branches out. Even though modern scholars try to exalt science above philosophy, you would have to turn to philosophy in order to understand what science’s true aim is, what its origins are, and why it should be undertaken at all.</p>
<p>They always seem to be thinking and seem angry when they walk around campus</p>
<p>Apricot.</p>
<p>But thats after I studied Zen.</p>
<p>I think they’re amazing. I love my philosophy class now and I wish I could minor in it just because it’s that fascinating. I love my philosophy teacher he is the perfect professor! I’m taking him next semester for Religions of the Globe. :)</p>
<p>"Analytic types tend to have mathematical minds, enjoy syllogistic logic, and view philosophy as being limited in its scope. Analytic philosophy tends to disregard ethics and metaphysics in favor of the philosophy of language and mathematical rigor. </p>
<p>Continental philosophy attracts students with intuitive minds who tend to view the world in a poetic way. They concern themselves primarily with modern and late modern german and french thinkers (Kant, Rousseau, Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Sartre, Derrida, and all sorts of other names that I can’t spell properly). Existentialism, romanticism, and idealism are unique to this school of philosophy."</p>
<p>Sorry, but I think that this is a stereotype, but not always true. As a student in one of the best philosophy departments in the country, as well as one that is most definitely analytic, everyone should realize that these categories aren’t that rigid. To begin with, Kant is certainly a huge influence on every analytic philosophy department in the country. Secondly, the chair of our department is a Heidegger scholar. Thirdly, many of the great contemporary philosophers have been avid readers of Hegel, Heidegger, etc (i.e Richard Rorty, Hilary Putnam, John McDowell, and John Rawls). So no one should think that if you happen to have an interest in “european philosophy” there is no place for you in US philosophy departments.</p>
<p>Oh, definitely. I’m sure there’s a broad overlap between both schools. I was just speaking in general terms. I’m actually in a history of philosophy/classics program, so I really don’t have too much experience with the analytic approach. I do have a number of professors who are skeptical about the positivism that is characteristic of many, if not most, analytic departments, though. Would you say that positivism is fairly prevalent in your department?</p>
<p>I’m not sure, I think that it is a broad term that most people don’t feel the need to take a strong stand on. But I would imagine so, though I don’t think you would get much of it outside of an epistemology course. There are always a number of courses on metaphysics though, so it certainly couldn’t be dominate.</p>
<p>They talk too much. I was a philosphy major for a semester, after I took an intro class that I really liked. Never. Again. Ever. ::Shudder:: But I agree with the poster who said, “I’m glad someone’s interested in it, so I don’t have to bother.”</p>
<p>For the record, at my school the major is not a joke. All the professors have (at least) a PhD and are authors and experts in their respective specializations. So I consider sticking with it an accomplishment, to be sure. </p>
<p>Finally, I do believe there is a difference between pre-law phi. majors and, say, “academic” phi. majors. You know, the whole “learning for learning’s sake” rather than trying to get into law school. But they all talk too much lol.</p>
<p>could either of you elaborate on universities with a strong continental cirriculum b/c i have yet to find my match. also, if i were more of a continental type, would i find myself regretting analytical philosophy if i were to take it? in other words, im horrible at mathematics, science, etc…</p>
<p>in the small point of view which is my life, the philosophy majors i know are all pretentious know-it-alls who act like they have achieved enlightenment. Needless to say I think majoring in philosophy is a waste of time although i do find the concept of studying knowledge fascinating.</p>
<p>@stilllearning: I totally agree with you that they talk too much!</p>
<p>There aren’t many continental undergraduate departments. Eugene Lang at the New school in NYC might be worth considering. I’m sure there are others, but off the top of my head…</p>