Freethought & Rationalism Archive

PandaJoe · 04-08-2003, 05:55 PM

Heya all, I'm a freshman in college, considering changing my major from the evil that is Computer Science. I've always taken an interest in philosophy, but I'd need to know how I can apply it in the future before deciding to change anything.
So what kind of jobs can a philosophy major get?

PS- Mods, if this isn't the appropriate forum, feel free to send it wherever (not that you need my permission

). I just figured some of the philosophy people who hang out here would know.

Psycho Economist · 04-08-2003, 11:30 PM

"I was actually a philosophy major in college, but, uh, let me tell you, if you're a philosophy major in college, cartoonist is basically the only career open to you."

Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons

Toto · 04-09-2003, 12:58 AM

The only jobs in philosophy are teaching, which means you will need a PhD and might end up teaching in a community college.

I have known people to take their philosophy degree and go to law school. But if you think computer science is evil. . .

Gunnaheave · 04-09-2003, 01:17 AM

Philosophy simply isn't a degree that will get you a quick job. If that is a concern to you, then you might consider a double major. Pick something practical, and pursue it in conjunction with the philosophy degree.

Frotiw · 04-09-2003, 01:49 AM

Ofcourse hardcore dedicated philosophers just get a job at their local burgerbar or 7-eleven and write masterworks of philosophy when not working.

That was was almost what Spinoza did, making optical equipment. Oh also Einstein used to be an office clerk though that did change at some point.

Godot · 04-09-2003, 03:48 AM

Would you like fries with that?

TiConTiki · 04-09-2003, 07:38 AM

My son is getting a PhD in Philosophy in Amsterdam right now and then plans to return to the states to get a JD in law.

I tell him that after that - he will be qualified to "wonder" about our legal system.

mac_philo · 04-09-2003, 07:53 AM

If you do well in your studies Philosophy will prepare you for a wild variety of jobs. You will be a better writer than almost everyone you graduate with, probably including the English/Lit. majors. You can get into publishing, writing, business, whatever. Philosophy is also one of the best preparations for graduate school. Philosophy majors easily outscore every other humanities discipline on the GRE, and they are in the top five overall.

Too bad you hate computer science, because you could double major in both. The intersection of philosophy, mathematics, and computer science is interesting. But that's the technical side of philosophy, and perhaps that's not what interests you. But Indiana is a good place for that kind of stuff.

All the jokes about philosophy grads are misguided. Sure, if you want to continue doing philosophy as a career the prospects are bad. But most philosophy majors don't do that. I went to a small liberal arts college. Of the philosophy majors in my year, one works for some kind of investement fund, one went to law school, one works in a bio lab, and I'm working on my Ph.D.

ex-xian · 04-09-2003, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Welcome to "Whose Line is it Anyway." The show where everything is made up and the points don't matter. That's right, the points are as useless as a degree in philosophy.
Drew Carey

Seriously though, perhaps if you narrowed down what type of philosophy interests you, you have a better idea of where to go. I agree with mac_philo that philosophy and mathematics/comp science is a very interesting topic. My study of philosophy is what motivated me to major in mathematics. If you lean more toward the post-modern side, perhaps a double major in philosophy and literature would suit you. Also, many major in history along with philosophy. Have you had any survey philosophy classes yet? Which era interested you the most?

flatland · 04-09-2003, 05:53 PM

I'd actually like to add my own curiosity in here. I'm currently a junior philosophy major, and although I'd like to go to graduate school, I'd like to have other options as well. My interests have narrowed to history of modern philosophy and ethics. I have to figure this out fairly soon, as I'd like to take the GREs this summer and apply next fall for grad school if that's the way I'm going. Anyway, I'm just curious as to what could use the skills, or even the ideas, learned in philosophy, besides lawyer.

04-08-2003, 05:55 PM	#1
PandaJoe Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bloomington, Indiana Posts: 188	Possible jobs for a philosophy major? Heya all, I'm a freshman in college, considering changing my major from the evil that is Computer Science. I've always taken an interest in philosophy, but I'd need to know how I can apply it in the future before deciding to change anything. So what kind of jobs can a philosophy major get? PS- Mods, if this isn't the appropriate forum, feel free to send it wherever (not that you need my permission ). I just figured some of the philosophy people who hang out here would know.

04-08-2003, 11:30 PM	#2
Psycho Economist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 854	Re: Possible jobs for a philosophy major? "I was actually a philosophy major in college, but, uh, let me tell you, if you're a philosophy major in college, cartoonist is basically the only career open to you." Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

04-09-2003, 12:58 AM	#3
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	The only jobs in philosophy are teaching, which means you will need a PhD and might end up teaching in a community college. I have known people to take their philosophy degree and go to law school. But if you think computer science is evil. . .

04-09-2003, 01:17 AM	#4
Gunnaheave Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: AZ Posts: 3,250	Philosophy simply isn't a degree that will get you a quick job. If that is a concern to you, then you might consider a double major. Pick something practical, and pursue it in conjunction with the philosophy degree.

04-09-2003, 01:49 AM	#5
Frotiw Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 122	Ofcourse hardcore dedicated philosophers just get a job at their local burgerbar or 7-eleven and write masterworks of philosophy when not working. That was was almost what Spinoza did, making optical equipment. Oh also Einstein used to be an office clerk though that did change at some point.

04-09-2003, 03:48 AM	#6
Godot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,335	Would you like fries with that?

04-09-2003, 07:38 AM	#7
TiConTiki Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: USA Posts: 28	My son is getting a PhD in Philosophy in Amsterdam right now and then plans to return to the states to get a JD in law. I tell him that after that - he will be qualified to "wonder" about our legal system.

04-09-2003, 07:53 AM	#8
mac_philo Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tax-Exempt Donor, SoP Loyalist Posts: 2,191	If you do well in your studies Philosophy will prepare you for a wild variety of jobs. You will be a better writer than almost everyone you graduate with, probably including the English/Lit. majors. You can get into publishing, writing, business, whatever. Philosophy is also one of the best preparations for graduate school. Philosophy majors easily outscore every other humanities discipline on the GRE, and they are in the top five overall. Too bad you hate computer science, because you could double major in both. The intersection of philosophy, mathematics, and computer science is interesting. But that's the technical side of philosophy, and perhaps that's not what interests you. But Indiana is a good place for that kind of stuff. All the jokes about philosophy grads are misguided. Sure, if you want to continue doing philosophy as a career the prospects are bad. But most philosophy majors don't do that. I went to a small liberal arts college. Of the philosophy majors in my year, one works for some kind of investement fund, one went to law school, one works in a bio lab, and I'm working on my Ph.D.

04-09-2003, 05:53 PM	#10
flatland Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The belly of the Beast - Houston Posts: 378	I'd actually like to add my own curiosity in here. I'm currently a junior philosophy major, and although I'd like to go to graduate school, I'd like to have other options as well. My interests have narrowed to history of modern philosophy and ethics. I have to figure this out fairly soon, as I'd like to take the GREs this summer and apply next fall for grad school if that's the way I'm going. Anyway, I'm just curious as to what could use the skills, or even the ideas, learned in philosophy, besides lawyer.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.