So hey I made a thread a few years ago asking if a college degree was really worth obtaining:
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=77412.msg1859392#msg1859392
So after taking in everyone's advice,I decided to take a year off, and I'm now back in it and I must say Philosophy has to be about the most useless, made-up subject in the school's curriculum. Never mind the high unemployment rates of Philosophy majors, or the low initial starting salary of someone starting in that field, but conceptually I can't believe this is a subject.
No disrespect to any Philosophy majors but I don't understand how this class is basically about raising unanswerable questions and forming arguments that can be refuted by a simple hypothetical anecdote. Doesn't the word mean "Love of Knowledge" or something? A lot of the old 17th-18th century philosophers made assumptions based on ignorance (which I can't blame them for), which science has been able to either confirm or refute, so what is the point of learning it now?
Can anyone rationalize this for me?
First, getting jobs is a narrow and dangerous way to rank majors.
Second, thinking is the basis for every other major in a university and the basis for an enlightened, informed person. Thinking deeply, broadly, and clearly are not easy to do. Virtually no one thinks this way unless trained and disciplined.
Who and what are we without thought, reflection, self-awareness?
Should only narrow questions raised by us? Only those that have answers? That leads to a bleak and boring existence for everyone.
Virtually all your profs and most experts have a ph.d. That is, they are doctors of philosophy. They has both mastered a mountain of knowledge and exhibited that they are experts in thinking about that material, creating new ideas based upon their thoughts, and debating with other highly disciplined thinkers. Thinking is a complex process they are experts in.
Thinking is hard to do well. Just as masters in music, art, engineering and other fields need to train and hone their skills, others who create, plan, and lead need to think carefully. To do this, they need to learn HOW to think carefully and broadly. Philosophy is a highly developed form of disciplined thinking.
Philosophy is not just a field, it is the basis for all advanced discoveries and progress since it is the basis of science, math, liberal arts, and virtually all else. Without philosophy there is no enlightenment period and no modernity as we define it. Is that good or bad? Only a philosopher can tackle that question.
Your inability to see the role of philosophy demonstrates inexperience in thinking carefully and deeply.
Thinking well takes time to learn I suggest you spent the time on it and practice philosophy.
You and those around you would benefit as human beings by your enhanced ability to think.