Philosophy Home

THE USE OF PHILOSOPHY

Articles about the real-world benefits of the study of Philosophy have recently appeared in two of the world's leading newspapers, the New York Times and the U.K. Guardian. See "The Life Examined" and "I Think, Therefore I Earn."

AN OVERVIEW FOR STUDENTS

The word “Philosophy” derives from the Ancient Greek words philo sophia, which may be translated as “love of wisdom.” As this suggests, Philosophy is a field of inquiry that aims to advance our understanding of ourselves and of the nature of reality, mind, knowledge and morality. It is concerned with fundamental questions about such topics, and it critically investigates what other disciplines, and other human activities, take for granted.

NC State courses in Philosophy provide students with the opportunity to study the writings of major western philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Leibniz, Hume and Kant, as well as contemporary work on philosophical issues concerning topics such as logic, language, science, identity, psychology, knowledge, value, law, ethics and justice. They are trained to interpret and evaluate such writings, and to think critically, constructively and independently about important issues such as the relationship between the mind and brain, the ethical implications of scientific advances, the justification of moral, political and legal institutions, the relationship between knowledge and reality, and the nature of the logic that structures human language and thought.

The study of Philosophy helps students to develop their capacity to understand, criticize and construct arguments, to analyze and solve problems, and to elaborate their ideas and present them in a clear, coherent and well-organized form. Students who have majored in Philosophy at NC State are familiar with the history of Philosophy, value theory, metaphysics and the theory of knowledge, and they are able to apply Philosophy and philosophical reasoning to real-world problems.

Philosophy majors in general tend to register higher scores on objective tests such as the GRE and LSAT, and the study of Philosophy provides an excellent preparation for Law School, Medical School and other professional schools, as well as for any field that requires critical and constructive thinking. NC State degrees in Philosophy also provide a firm foundation for advanced study in Philosophy, and several recent graduates have gone on to prestigious graduate programs.

The NC State Department of Philosophy and Religion offers the following major programs in Philosophy:

• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy


• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with Concentration in Ethics


• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with Concentration in Philosophy of Law


• Bachelor of Science in Philosophy


• Bachelor of Science in Philosophy with Concentration in Logic, Representation and Reasoning

See Degrees Offered.

The following minors in Philosophy and related interdisciplinary fields are also available:

• Undergraduate Minor in Philosophy
  
  
• Undergraduate and Graduate Minors in Cognitive Science
  
  
• Undergraduate Minor in Ethics
  
  
• Undergraduate Minor in Heath, Medicine, and Human Values
  
  
• Undergraduate Minor in Logic and Methodology

Brief descriptions of the Philosophy courses offered at NC State appear in Courses Offered .

For a useful guide to Philosophy issued by the American Philosophical Association, see A Brief Guide for Undergraduates.

SOME COMMENTS BY RECENT NC STATE GRADUATES IN PHILOSOPHY

• "The value of studying philosophy is that it enables you to break free of the small questions of everyday affairs. Philosophy asks the difficult questions that other disciplines ignore, and although philosophers often have dissonant answers, the study of philosophy does give you an impetus to attempt to come to your own answer, or at least to understand the intricacies involved in coming to an answer.... Too many of us nowadays want to simplify everything and make life as simple as possible when, in truth, life is complex and there are no easy answers - and philosophy helps you to realize that." Saliha Baloch, BA in Philosophy, BA in History, 2004
  
  
• "I probably use my philosophy degree more than my zoology degree in the lab. While it is my science background that qualifies me for my job, it’s my philosophy background that far better benefits me, especially when dealing with the grey areas, handling problems in general, staying level-headed and maintaining a decent perspective, as well as understanding and appreciating other people’s points of view." Steve Hume, BS in Philosophy, BS in Zoology, Minor in Genetics,1997
  
  
• "My favorite aspect of the NC State philosophy faculty was their lack of pretense.... All the professors I had interacted with students as if they respected their ideas and would consider their questions and ideas as thoughtfully as they would a colleague's." Jimmy Martin, BS in Philosophy, BS in Electrical Engineering, 2004
  
  
• "Rutgers has one of the top five graduate philosophy departments in the country. My philosophy training at NC State put me on an equal footing with classmates from Princeton, Oxford and Cambridge. Working with internationally known scholars devoted to teaching undergraduates made the difference." Lee Wentz, BS in Philosophy, BS in Mathematics, 1997.
  
  
• "I was a double major in physics and philosophy at NC State and am now (2007) pursuing my PhD in physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a research concentration in experimental condensed matter physics. Studying philosophy helped me develop a point of view I otherwise would not have. It gave me a better understanding of the history of philosophical ideas, undoubtedly helped me develop a much stronger world view, and left me with a broader perspective that further strengthened my interest in understanding the universe as a whole. I would recommend that anyone who is looking for a career in science consider adding philosophy as a second major. Surprisingly, the two compliment each other nicely." Nathan J. Speer, BS Philosophy, BS Physics, 2002

Top