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Why Study Philosophy?

The Appeal of the Subject

Philosophy appeals to people who want to think for themselves, who want to question everyday assumptions, and probe deeper into fundamental questions. Like other humanities subjects, and the natural and social sciences, it is a response to the natural curiosity of human beings about themselves and their world.

There are a number of reasons for studying philosophy:

• Philosophy is an intellectual challenge: it stretches the mind, and this is valuable and attractive in its own right.
• Philosophy contributes to our understanding of other areas of inquiry, both theoretical and practical.

Although it has a reputation for asking obscure questions, philosophy is not removed from everyday life. The subject always begins by responding to concerns or worries that occur to all of us at one time or another. For example:

• Reading a newspaper report on the differences in health between the rich and the poor may set off a series of questions, not merely about practical policy, but about the nature of justice and the best way to organize a society. These are philosophical questions.
• Hearing about a grotesque sculpture winning a prestigious art prize may set off questions not only about the merits of the judges, but about what makes art good. Is it a matter of personal taste, or do other standards apply? This is a philosophical question.
• Thinking about your own or a friend’s religious belief might cause you to question, in a very general way, the relationship between belief and evidence. Once again, this is a philosophical question.
  

Philosophy and the job market

More than 40% of job vacancies for graduates in the UK do not specify any particular degree subject and, further to this, the employability of philosophy students has increased in recent years. According to a recent article in the Guardian:

'Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show philosophy graduates are in growing demand from employers. The number of all graduates in full-time and part-time work six months after graduation has risen by 9% between 2002-03 and 2005-06; for philosophy graduates it has gone up by 13%.' (Click here to view the full article)

Employers look for people who are well-motivated, have initiative, can cope with pressure, work effectively in groups, etc. Successfully completing a degree requires just these skills, and this is one reason why graduates are sought be employers.

More specifically, university study develops work skills that are in high demand. In particular, it develops abilities which have to do with communication, rapid understanding and analysis. Philosophy develops all of these skills to a high degree:

• Oral communication is developed in seminars where students present and discuss ideas and develop views of their own.
• Written communication is developed in essay and report writing, and, for some students, in the writing of a substantial dissertation.
• Philosophy is a demanding subject, dealing with some of the most difficult questions human beings can ask. As such, it is a powerful exercise programme for the mind, giving the philosophy graduate the mental fitness required for rapid understanding.

Perhaps more than any other subject, philosophy develops the skills of analysis. A philosophical approach to a subject is never content with merely assimilating and assembling information about it. Rather, it seeks to understand the concepts used by the subject, the connections between its ideas and the hidden assumptions it may adopt.

Many philosophy students go directly into employment after they graduate. But a significant number also go on to take postgraduate courses, at Stirling and elsewhere. A few students will take a postgraduate course in philosophy itself, but some elect to supplement their study with vocational courses, in subjects such as information technology.

Graduates in philosophy at Stirling have gone into a variety of fields, including: Adult Education, banking, the Army, social or care work, student counselling, the police, marketing, university lecturing, the civil service and local authority administration.