Is Philosophy a doss subject?

I will start by saying I thought I was pretty sure on what I wanted to do for my A levels till people on TSR kept saying Philosophy was doss :eek:

I originally wanted to take Maths, History, Politics and Philosophy at A level; then do PPE at uni or something like Economics Politics and International studies or even history and politics.

1. Is philosophy seen as doss by Oxbridge and top uni's?
2. How is Economics seen by Oxbridge and top uni's?
3. Which would be better to take for my degree choice; Economics or Philosophy?
4. Should I do Economics instead of philosophy?

All your help is much appreciated :yep:

Thanks,
Grant :biggrin:

EDIT: I studied Economics at GCSE and really enjoyed it. BUt would also like to learn about philosophy too.

Reply 1

KJ21

13

1. Not really.
2. Highely respected
3. Ecomomics
4. Yes

Reply 2

wanderlust.xx

18

Meh, drop Maths and do Philosophy and Economics.

Reply 3

Jackathon

Wait until you've done the subjects at AS to decide whether you even enjoy them? :s:

Reply 4

tucker672

OP

1

wanderlust.xx

Meh, drop Maths and do Philosophy and Economics.

I have heard economic uni's would rather maths than economics a level. :s-smilie:

Reply 5

Roquentin

I did A-Levels similiar to you; History, Politics, Philosophy and Economics. I would say that out of these, philosophy did require the least amount of work, but that is not to say that it is in any way a "doss" subject.
History and politics are all about understanding events and maths is all about numbers. These are things that you can see and appreciate. But in philosophy, you work with ideas, so there is more abstract thinking involved. There's less writing down stuff because it's not always stuff you CAN write down!

I doubt that Oxbridge see it a silly subject, since they do offer courses on it (got a philosophy offer for Cam myself) and it involves a lot of serious critical thining (philosophy students are probably the best thinkers).

It would be easier for you to go do Economics at Uni then it would have been for me, because you'd have Maths, but you could apply to philosophy just as easily (I hear degree level philosophy involves dealing with the murky, mathematical world of formal logic). It's up to you, in the end,

Reply 6

korektphool

tucker672

I have heard economic uni's would rather maths than economics a level. :s-smilie:

Don't drop maths.

Philosophy is certainly not a doss subject. If you want to do something with economics at university, it is not necessary to do A-level economics. Instead, you can do stick with your original four choices.

Alternatively do 5 AS subjects (your 4 original + economics).

Reply 7

tucker672

OP

1

Roquentin

I did A-Levels similiar to you; History, Politics, Philosophy and Economics. I would say that out of these, philosophy did require the least amount of work, but that is not to say that it is in any way a "doss" subject.
History and politics are all about understanding events and maths is all about numbers. These are things that you can see and appreciate. But in philosophy, you work with ideas, so there is more abstract thinking involved. There's less writing down stuff because it's not always stuff you CAN write down!

I doubt that Oxbridge see it a silly subject, since they do offer courses on it (got a philosophy offer for Cam myself) and it involves a lot of serious critical thining (philosophy students are probably the best thinkers).

It would be easier for you to go do Economics at Uni then it would have been for me, because you'd have Maths, but you could apply to philosophy just as easily (I hear degree level philosophy involves dealing with the murky, mathematical world of formal logic). It's up to you, in the end,

How did you find economics at A level?

And well done got to Cambridge to do Philosophy :yep:

That was my orignal subject choice; but maths is basically a requirement for PPE :p:

Grant

Reply 8

wanderlust.xx

18

korektphool

Don't drop maths.

Philosophy is certainly not a doss subject. If you want to do something with economics at university, it is not necessary to do A-level economics. Instead, you can do stick with your original four choices.

Alternatively do 5 AS subjects (your 4 original + economics).

I agree that all of the subjects he/she is currently taking counts towards the PPE degree, but honestly, I think Maths would be the least suited for it - and Economics is certainly more useful for it; well, that's what I've heard from people who're doing PPE anyway.

Reply 9

Amy***

7

who said philosophy was a doss?! It really isnt. Trust me its much harder than my other subjects - economics, history and politics. Also i think it is viewed quite well by Oxbridge.

Reply 10

tucker672

OP

1

Amy***

who said philosophy was a doss?! It really isnt. Trust me its much harder than my other subjects - economics, history and politics. Also i think it is viewed quite well by Oxbridge.

What are you hoping to do with your subject choice?

Reply 11

tucker672

OP

1

wanderlust.xx

I agree that all of the subjects he/she is currently taking counts towards the PPE degree, but honestly, I think Maths would be the least suited for it - and Economics is certainly more useful for it; well, that's what I've heard from people who're doing PPE anyway.

I heard that maths is more useful; and when I went to my colleges open day the economics A level just looked like it was covering GCSE again :s-smilie:

Grant

Reply 12

tucker672

OP

1

anyone?

Reply 13

Amy***

7

tucker672

What are you hoping to do with your subject choice?

I think i'll drop economics - it is DULL and take the other three on to A2. Then i'm hoping to study Politics and Philosophy or PPE at uni.

Reply 14

Norfolkadam

18

I did Philosophy and if someone told me it was a "doss" I'd hit them round the head with Descarte's meditations and tell them to piss off and study some meta-ethics. It is not, I repeat not as doss, it's bloody hard.

Reply 15

tucker672

OP

1

Amy***

I think i'll drop economics - it is DULL and take the other three on to A2. Then i'm hoping to study Politics and Philosophy or PPE at uni.

interesting I thought you would have to keep economics considering you havent got maths to do PPE :confused:

Reply 16

Reply 17

tucker672

I will start by saying I thought I was pretty sure on what I wanted to do for my A levels till people on TSR kept saying Philosophy was doss :eek:

.

One of the reasons why you shouldn't listen to some people on TSR. They talk crap.

It's an ancient discipline and has been taught for thousands of years. As well as being very interesting it offers solid transferable skills that are very much valued in both higher education and in employment.

tucker672

1. Is philosophy seen as doss by Oxbridge and top uni's?

Not at all. They teach it after all :p:

tucker672

2. How is Economics seen by Oxbridge and top uni's??

Very well thought of.

tucker672

3. Which would be better to take for my degree choice; Economics or Philosophy?

Difficult one. Neither are required (I don't think). Certainly not philosophy. I'd possibly go with economics but, then again, you are doing maths so perhaps a second art subject won't hurt. Either way you have a good mix there (science, art and social science).

I think in a case like this it just has to come down to you. You've already studied economics and found you like it (and are good at it?) Philosophy is something a little bit new? Have you got a long standing interest in the subject, have you read around a fair amount or is it something particularly new?

tucker672

4. Should I do Economics instead of philosophy??

Think I covered that.

Reply 18

River85

17

Norfolkadam

study some meta-ethics.

No thank you. I'm desperately trying to pretend that I don't have an exam in it next week.

Reply 19

Amy***

7

tucker672

interesting I thought you would have to keep economics considering you havent got maths to do PPE :confused:

No - history is actually highly recomended for PPE (and will be useful if i decide to do philosophy and politics). Economics involvs very little maths - atleast the course i do does. Maths would obviously be useful for PPE but i can't stomach it for A level!

Is Philosophy a doss subject?

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