Is Philosophy a good degree?

I'm only just choosing my a-levels, so I know it's kind of early to decide what to study at university already, it's not like I'm setting anything in stone I just love the thought of studying Philosophy for three years and can't see myself doing anything else (apart from maybe history).
But, I've heard that a Philosophy isn't a very useful degree as it doesn't really take you anywhere, and no employers really look for it in job applicants.
Perhaps I might combine it with politics?
I was just wondering what everyone thought? thanks :smile:

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Reply 1

lolasland

Seeing as you're degree is mainly based on the metaphysical world and abstract principles, I would say go with History, if you take Philosophy you have two options which is to go into teaching Philosophy, writing about Philosophy or being a very insightful crack ho

Reply 2

chickenonsteroids

well there's no such thing as a job in philosophy really but it's still a good degree, because of the analysis and logical thought you're meant to gain you can go into law from it with a law conversion year.

I think anyway

Reply 3

TenOfThem

Original post by lolasland

You do know that is 3 choices don't you

Reply 4

lolasland

Oh shoot me

Reply 5

Picnic1

It's an enjoyable A-Level. It can be a chew of a degree (for an 'arts' degree) due to having to learn logic and Kant.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 6

The Lyceum

Depends on the institution and course content. From what I've seen from those people I know working corporate jobs (well Law mainly with a bit of banking) you won't be disadvantaged.

Good for you though, I abhor 99% of Philosophy.

Reply 7

digitalfever

I'd say it's a good degree if your going to follow up with Law or something afterwards... otherwise nah not so much.

Reply 8

TobeTheHero

"My philosophy of life is that if we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work hard toward that goal, we never lose - somehow we win out."

Ronald Reagan

]

Reply 9

I'mBadAtMaths

Original post by TobeTheHero

"My philosophy of life is that if we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work hard toward that goal, we never lose - somehow we win out."

Ronald Reagan

]

lolololol, i rep'd you for your wonderful sig

Reply 10

kezzida

Well I'm hoping for a career in publishing or media, maybe HR - is philosophy not ideal for something like this?

Reply 11

TenOfThem

Original post by lolasland

Oh shoot me

Reply 12

thisismycatch22

Reply 13

aeterno

Study something you enjoy and you're more likely to succeed in it - which obviously matters what with the 2.1 cut off points etc. etc.
As long as you simultaneously get some relevant work experience you can still go into your desired field (I should probably add - this takes time and nowadays no degree guarantees you a job at the end of it so bear that in mind)

If you enjoy it, do it.

Reply 14

Humberto

Original post by kezzida

Well I'm hoping for a career in publishing or media, maybe HR - is philosophy not ideal for something like this?

Out of those I'd say it's one of the better degrees for publishing and written media or journalism. I study philosophy myself and, at least at our university, we get very thorough training in reading/writing when compared to pretty much every other subject. You know, writing essays every week for 3+ years really gets your writing skills up to above-average levels :smile:

Then again, a teacher of us once said: "well, you better become a good writer through philosophy, as it's pretty much the only thing we can do." A somewhat ironic tone, but reading and discussing/writing about ideas (e.g. whether they are logically sound, are consistent, etc.) is absolutely our main skill.

It indeed "doesn't really take you anywhere," as it's not a subject with a clear career set in stone. Some end up in journalism, some in the academic world, some in corporate, and many elsewhere. Keep in mind though, that in the Netherlands at least, philosophers get a job-on-level faster than psychologists, so it's really not that bad. Lastly, I agree with the Reagen quote that following your passion always "wins out" in the end :wink:

Good luck with whatever you will choose in the end!

Reply 15

Rich 102

Sounds like a pretty useless degree, anyone with a bit of brain gear can get this degree, but at the end of the day, there are hardly any jobs in this sector either and employers do not want a person who thinks all day and gets nothing done work wise. so, it is a useless waste of your precious time to study to achieve and have little prospect of a job....Do something else! Someone mentioned above you could become a teacher of Philosophy but lets be honest how many schools teach or have that subject and secondly how many Universities have empty vacancies in this area? Hardly any!

All Philosophy does is to give a general signal that you can write, reason, learn, and are self-motivated enough to get a degree, but then we're all capable of that!!

French philosopher René Descartes said: "I think, therefore I am." But devoting your days to thinking about life's big questions hardly translates into an obvious career plan or any sort of a salary. No wonder philosophy has long been derided as a degree for drifters.

Only half of 2009 philosophy graduates found employment within a year and a half and then mostly at supermarkets or fast food outlets.

Studying philosophy will have taught you to think logically and critically about issues, to analyze and construct arguments and to be open to new ways of thinking................but who needs a degree to do that......we all have those skills at hand. Sorry to say this but you should channel your energies elsewhere. It is no good saying "I have a degree in Philosophy", when there is no employment afterwards.....a complete waste of time! Remember this: all of the great thinkers or philosophers of the past never even went to Uni, they probably just thought about it instead.

Rich.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 16

saeen

@Rich 102
Your analysis on philosophy lacks the basic concept of philosophy itself. " employers do not want a person who thinks all day and gets nothing done work wise", what kind of immature statement is that? You mean to say thing is this world is physical work? Work is only the physical displacement of objects? After reading your views about philosophy, you sound to me really illiterate about the concept of knowledge. Seems like intellectual ideas never crossed your mind! If everybody could come up with new ways of thinking, I believe the world would be 99.9% trouble free and there wouldn't be any hunger, war, poverty, and other social issues! Is there anyone in the world who want to be dumb or want to seek help from others about the problem? There is big scope of Philosophers in making up the future of a society.

Reply 17

Rich 102

You are entitled to your views, but please, please spare me the illiterate crap, everybody who reads this thread will see that you do not really know or understand what illiterate is.... to help you it means this:- 'illiterate means can't read or write'! That was foolish. I won't take you seriously now!

Work is only the physical displacement of objects? Really? Let me think about that for a year or three and I'll get back to you.

Reply 18

saeen

Your analysis on philosophy lacks the basic concept of philosophy itself.

Reply 19

saeen

@Rich 102 Half of philosophy graduates worked at fast food outlets? anyone can think and bla boa so why do they even teach philosophy at schools at first place? waow... in other words, to be straight, you aint know s.h.i.t. about philosophy n.i.g.g.a!