questions, because the answers to them have se- rious consequences for those involved.
of this critique couldn’t be further from the truth.
In reality, philosophy graduates are among the most flexible and critical thinkers in the work - force. They are found working for almost every type of employer in the public, private and non- profit sectors. The skills you learn as a philosophy student are highly transferable and highly valued by employers. This is especially true in careers in- volving problem-solving and assessing informa- tion from many angles. Opportunities are availa- ble in arts-based areas like publishing, the media, journalism, advertising and teaching, through to computer science and information technologies.
How does Philosophy expand how you think?
While most of the tim, people think about the classics when it comes to courses in philoso- phy—Ancient Greek Philosophy, Plato, Aristot- le—many courses apply to urgent current issues, such as Philosophy of Law, On War and Killing, Philosophy and Current Affairs, Art, Media and Society, or Political Philosophy. Many courses span the ages, because they explore Ethics, Mor - al Problems, Values and Economic Justice, Theo - ries of Good Life, Problems of Evil, Philosophy of Religion. And yet another category of courses engage with philosophies from different parts of the world, such as Zen and Tibetan Buddhism or Chinese Philosophy. Critics of Humanities education will sometimes target Philosophy majors. They claim the major is useless, since there are no jobs for philosophers aside from teaching philosophy. But the premise
by Christine Henseler
Do you often find yourself lost in thought? Do you enjoy debating with others? Do you spend a good deal of time thinking about the nature of the universe? Do you often ask why things are the way they are? Then a philosophy class may be for you! The name “Philosophy” derives from the Greek, “Philosophia” meaning love of wisdom. Philoso- phers like to ask the big questions, like: ”What is Truth?”, “Does God exist?” and “What is the meaning of life?” A philosopher explores things like the nature of thought, perception, observa- tions about humans and the world we live in, and human experiences. Building their argument, philosophers defend their personal beliefs about the nature of existence, our place within it, and attitudes that will help us make our lives ethical and meaningful. In a philosophy class, you’ll read the writings of prominent thinkers throughout history. You’ll also explore the many tools they have developed over time for reasoning, logic, and effective ar - gumentation. You’ll discover the biases and com- mon fallacies of human thought and how to think critically.
While these philosophies may cover any number of different topics, there are four major concerns of philosophers: Epistemology, Ontology, Meta - physics, and Ethics. Epistemology is concerned with the nature of knowledge itself. How do we know what we know? What makes it true or false? How do we learn? These are all questions of epistemology. Ontology explores the nature of existence. On- tological questions include: What are the funda- mental parts of the world? How are they related to each other? Are physical parts more real than immaterial concepts? Metaphysics deals with the fundamental nature of reality. Metaphysics asks things like: what does it mean to say that x is true? What is a cause? What is an object? What is the fundamental na- ture of time? Ethics are the ones you’ve probably heard of. Ethi - cists are concerned with the differences between what is right and what is wrong to do in a given situation. Should abortion be legal? What is the right way for a doctor to practice medicine? Who is responsible for the damages inflicted by an au - tonomous vehicle? These are all difficult ethical
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