Studying philosophy can be life changing. It gives students the opportunity to think critically and ask questions about life, beauty, truth, who they are and what they believe in. The skills and knowledge-sets students develop in philosophy courses are not only useful in a variety of careers but can also prepare them to live meaningful lives.
Developing critical career skills
Philosophy students learn how to make good arguments and criticize bad ones. They develop problem-solving, critical reading and reasoning skills. This is why philosophy students generally do very well on standardized tests such as the GRE, GMAT and LSAT. And it’s also why they typically succeed in fields like law, business, education and other areas that require writing, argumentation and analytical ability. They can go on to train as pastors and priests, building upon what they learned in philosophy of religion or ethics courses. They may become teachers or journalists, putting their broad knowledge and linguistic skills to work. A few philosophy students might go on to obtain graduate degrees in philosophy, which can lead to jobs teaching at the college level.
Pre-law applications
Many universities have pre-law programs connected to their philosophy education programs — either as a track within the philosophy major, or through recommended or required philosophy courses in an interdisciplinary pre-law program. Among useful courses for a career in law are those in logic and argumentation, along with ethics and social or political philosophy.
Cognitive science applications
Philosophy is also a useful major for students interested in cognitive science. Classes in epistemology and the philosophy of mind introduce students to questions and theories about what it means to think, and what is unique, if anything, about human consciousness. These studies are useful in a world where artificial intelligence (AI) has become commonplace. While engineers and computer scientists work on hardware and software, philosophers ask questions about the meaning and purpose of consciousness itself.
The link between ethics and philosophy
Philosophers are also trained to ask ethical questions about these and other technologies. Ethics and value theory are substantial areas of concern within a philosophy major. This includes applied ethics courses, where students critically evaluate difficult issues. This kind of content is what you can find in my textbook, “Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues.” Almost every profession has an ethics component: nurses, doctors, lawyers and engineers all need ethics training. A focus on ethics and philosophy makes sense as a double-major or a minor for students pursuing those professional degrees. There are also ethics professionals at work in the world outside of academia. For example, in hospitals and research facilities, there are ethics committees and advisory boards which work as case consultants and as policy advisors.
Philosophy as a “way of life”
Perhaps the most important reason for students to study philosophy is because they’re interested in life’s biggest questions. Maybe they’re concerned about justice and motivated by the search for wisdom. We live in a world that has become incredibly complex. It is increasingly difficult to distinguish the good and true from the mere appearance of these things. Without wisdom, it’s difficult to achieve happiness. The study of philosophy will acquaint them with the deepest and most profound thinking on wisdom, happiness and the good life. This is what we attempt to do in our textbook “Archetypes of Wisdom: Introduction to Philosophy.” It may also help students resolve some of their own questions about who they are, what they believe and how to live well. In the text, we explain that philosophy can be understood as a “way of life.” The philosophical life is open to all people. It is an open-minded and curious approach to living.
Studying philosophy: the full impact
The philosophical life is one that encourages active engagement with history, culture and politics. It is a way of thinking that helps you wrestle with difficult questions in pursuit of wisdom. Studying philosophy can help students with career development. It can help them become better citizens, friends and colleagues. And more importantly, it will help them discover the joy of thinking and the wonder of being human.
Written by Andrew Fiala, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy and Founding Director of the Ethics Center at California State University, Fresno.