What is Philosophy?
Philosophy is an ancient discipline with a modern sensibility. It is ancient in that it attempts to find answers to life's most enduring and difficult questions:
What is the purpose of human life? Does God exist? What is real and what is hallucination? How can I know anything for sure? Why should I be ethical?
Philosophy is also modern in that it will prepare you for a workplace where the ability to think and learn is more important than any specific skill. As more job functions are computerized, automated, or outsourced, workers today must be able to think abstractly and learn quickly if they want to be indispensable.
Although many other disciplines, such as astronomy, biology and psychology, were outgrowths of philosophy, philosophy is special because its purpose is to teach you "how" to think, not "what" to think. Students of philosophy concentrate on how to read and observe critically, how to break-down arguments into reasons, how to criticize arguments, and how to create new arguments of their own. By studying Socrates, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Sartre and others, students master the "transferable" skills that make them stand out in today's globally competitive job market. (See the Careers link for more information.)
To learn more about the Philosophy major at Doane College, request more information.
Image Copyright © 1997-2005 Geoff Haselhurst