Resources for Students

Who studies philosophy?  What's it like to study (or major or minor) in philosophy?  What can a philosophy degree do for you?  Why does philosophy matter?  Learn more below!

Why Study Philosophy?

Many influential and interesting people have studied or majored in philosophy.  For examples, see here and here and here.  Here are some more in depth discussions of the value of philosophy or people who used their philosophical skills to make an impact:

I think philosophy can be an empowering tool for understanding the world and our place in it, and the reasoning skills it helps us develop are valuable not only in philosophy classes but in daily life and a wide variety of career fields.  

For instance, you might be interested to know that philosophy majors, on average, perform extremely well on graduate and professional school exams (including for law school, medical school, and graduate school), and employers value the critical thinking skills philosophy provides (see here and here).  For more on what it’s like to major in philosophy, see the American Philosophical Association’s resources for undergraduates: http://www.apaonline.org/page/undergrad_resources.  

(If you’re interested in majoring in philosophy but need to think about how to explain your choice to your parents, see here.  For information on the financial success you can have with a philosophy degree, see here and here.  See also here for debunking of various myths about majoring in the Humanities.  But, remember that there are many benefits to studying philosophy that having nothing to do with money.  For more influential perspectives on the value of studying the humanities, such as philosophy, see here.  See also this book: What Can I Do With a Philosophy Degree?)

If you're a Saint Paul College student interested in studying more philosophy after you transfer, feel free to email me or come to office hours.  I'd be excited to talk!


Miscellaneous philosophy resources