Why Philosophy?
“If I were to start again as an undergraduate, I would major in philosophy. I think that subject is really at the core of just about everything we do. If you study humanities or political systems or sciences in general, philosophy is really the mother ship from which all of these disciplines grow.”
—Matthew Goldstein, Chancellor of City University of New York (CUNY)
"Surprise: Humanities Degrees Provide Great Return on Investment," Jeffrey Dorfman, Forbes, November 20, 2014
"Don't Dismiss the Humanities," Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times, August 13, 2014
"Why Study Philosophy? 'To Challenge Your Own Point of View,'" Hope Reese and Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, The Atlantic, February 27. 2014
"Be Employable, Study Philosophy," Shannon Rupp, Salon.com, July 1, 2013
"In a New Generation of College Students, Many Opt for the Life Examined," Winnie Hu, The New York Times, April 6, 2008
Can you name 5 famous Philosophy majors? You would be surprised.
John Cleese, of Monty Python fame, has recorded a series of videos on the importance of Philosophy for the American Philosophy Association.
"Best Majors for GRE Scores in 2013: Philosophy Dominates," Physics Central, July 29, 2013
"PayScale Salary Increase by Major" Philosophy comes in at #10.
Philosophy: The Ultimate Transferable Work Skill
According to the author of an opinion piece in the Times of London, "The great virtue of philosophy is that it teaches not what to think, but how to think. It is the study of meaning, of the principles underlying conduct, thought and knowledge. The skills it hones are the ability to analyze, to question orthodoxies and to express things clearly.... In the US, where the number of philosophy graduates has increased by 5 per cent a year during the 1990s, only a very few go on to become philosophers. Their employability, at 98.9 per cent, is impressive by any standard.... Philosophy is, in commercial jargon, the ultimate "transferable work skill".... It is rewarding in itself; and it could nowadays be the passport to a successful, varied career."