Philosophy - Ohio State University - Main Campus

Philosophy from Ohio State University - Main Campus is a Campus Bachelor Philosophy degree that prepares you for a Liberal Arts career. The word philosophy comes from Greek words meaning ?the love of wisdom.? The ancient Greek philosophers distinguished themselves from the sophists, who claimed to have wisdom, by insisting that philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom. This pursuit begins with questioning?questioning one?s own beliefs as well as the beliefs of others. It involves challenging the most basic shared beliefs of one?s society. Not surprisingly, this activity has not always made philosophers popular. One of the first philosophers, Socrates, was sentenced to death by the Athenian courts for his challenges to accepted doctrines. The 17th-century philosopher Baruch Spinoza was ex-communicated from the Jewish community and branded a heretic for his views. Today, reasonable people have come to value the practice of questioning the authority of even our deepest held beliefs. As the 20th-century philosopher Bertrand Russell wrote, ?Philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions . . . but rather for the sake of these questions themselves; because these questions enlarge our conception of what is possible, enrich our intellectual imagination and diminish the dogmatic assurance which closes the mind against speculation.? Philosophers ask the big questions in life: ?Is there a meaning to life?? ?Are there objective moral standards?? ?Do we have free-will?? ?How can we be justified in our beliefs about the world?? and ?Is there a God?? These are questions that almost everyone ponders at some time or other. Philosophers, though, set about to examine these questions rigorously and provide reasoned defenses for their answers. Toward that goal, philosophers are trained to read carefully, think clearly, and write cogently. As a result, those who major in philosophy are well prepared for graduate work in law, the sciences, or the humanities, and they are relatively immune to many of the rhetorical tricks and fallacious arguments of everyday life. Co-Curricular Opportunities Ohio State offers many opportunities for students to learn and grow outside of the classroom. These range from cooperative education (co-op) and internships to study abroad programs to student organizations. Co-ops and internships place students in professional environments while they are Ohio State students. Ohio State offers more than 100 study abroad programs in 40 countries around the world. In addition, there are hundreds of student organizations on campus to meet the interests of a diverse student population. Philosophy majors will be particularly interested in the very active Undergraduate Philosophy Club. These experiences enable students to gain valuable work experience, learn about cultures, and take on leadership roles before they enter the workforce. All of these experiences enhance learning and may provide an advantage in the job market. Career Prospects in Philosophy Some philosophy majors plan to go on to graduate school with the goal of teaching philosophy at the college level. For these students a major in philosophy is the best undergraduate preparation. Most philosophy majors, though, do not pursue graduate studies in philosophy. Philosophy majors can find careers in a number of professions. Business and government employers are often pleased to hire philosophy majors because of their ability to read carefully, write clearly, and to see to the heart of complex problems. The rigorous training philosophy majors receive in analysis and argumentation result in their performing particularly well on admissions tests for law school, business school, and graduate programs in academic disciplines. Ohio State graduates with philosophy degrees have chosen non-academic jobs that include research administrator for the National Youth Employment Coalition, stockbroker with Dean Witter, systems engineer with IBM, assistant district attorney in San Francisco, film and TV screenwriter, and teacher with Teach for America. Beginning salaries for philosophy majors who choose jobs outside academia depend on the candidate?s skills and experience. Philosophy graduates find their marketable skills considerably enriched by their education. Philosophy graduates who earn a PhD may pursue an academic career. View more details on Ohio State University - Main Campus . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Philosophy courses.