Thinking of majoring in Philosophy

[RandomPoster]

I was interested in Philosophy, among other things in college, except chose what I deemed the most practical of my interests, Computer Science. I would make the same choice again if given the chance. I dropped out of school to accept a job offer in a different location. After a succesful career in software development , I can afford to go back to school on my own dime and study what I lIke. My question is how far will finishing my bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics go towards fullfilling requirements towards a Science of Philosophy degree?

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

I guess if you want to waste thousands of dollars

 

[RandomPoster]

I guess if you want to waste thousands of dollars

Considering that I've been wasting 1500 dollars a month on booze for the last few years and recently had a friend die of alcoholic pancreatitis, I can think of worse things I can waste my money on.

 

[Mousterian]

Have you looked in to the career prospects for a Philosophy major?
Unless you're good enough to be teaching this marginal stuff as an aside to other disciplines, it might be hard to find a job that pays anywhere near the IT level.
Of course, if it's primarily for personal development, go for it!
Somebody said, when Science displaced God as the Truth, (in the 19th century!) that philosophy has been relegated to the realm of semantics. Perhaps you might get more from a linguistics course.

 

[RandomPoster]

Have you looked in to the career prospects for a Philosophy major?
Unless you're good enough to be teaching this marginal stuff as an aside to other disciplines, it might be hard to find a job that pays anywhere near the IT level.
Of course, if it's primarily for personal development, go for it!
Somebody said, when Science displaced God as the Truth, (in the 19th century!) that philosophy has been relegated to the realm of semantics. Perhaps you might get more from a linguistics course.

I assure you, I have no intention of quitiing my day job in order to pursue this. I still love developing software and have no plans of walking away from it. I have simply always been passionate about the roots of Philosophy and also happen to have a fondness for the much maligned, idealistic philosophy from the early to mid 20th century known as Logical Positivism.

 

[BULLDOG]

Have you looked in to the career prospects for a Philosophy major?
Unless you're good enough to be teaching this marginal stuff as an aside to other disciplines, it might be hard to find a job that pays anywhere near the IT level.
Of course, if it's primarily for personal development, go for it!
Somebody said, when Science displaced God as the Truth, (in the 19th century!) that philosophy has been relegated to the realm of semantics. Perhaps you might get more from a linguistics course.

I assure you, I have no intention of quitiing my day job in order to pursue this. I still love developing software and have no plans of walking away from it. I have simply always been passionate about the roots of Philosophy and also happen to have a fondness for the much maligned, idealistic philosophy from the early to mid 20th century known as Logical Positivism.

You should do what you feel is right for you, but for my 2cents, at this point it's a matter of what you want to do more than a matter of what career opportunities it might offer. Not sure how old you are, but you say you have had a good career in software, it's probably a little late to start another one in another discipline. You worked hard to be able to make that decision. Doing something just because you want to is your reward.

 

[there4eyeM]

I guess if you want to waste thousands of dollars

Waste? Being educated in a field of interest to someone is a waste?
What is money for, then?

 

[fncceo]

Welcome to your new office ...

 

[fncceo]

Everything you need to know about Western Philosophy.

 

[there4eyeM]

Americans have little use for what are not directly lucrative intellectual pursuits. They think they know what 'practical' is and have no resources for seeing outside that tight, constricting box. Any uncomfortable philosophical issues can be resolved with simplistic religious platitudes or clichéd political jingoisms.

 

[fncceo]

Any uncomfortable philosophical issues can be resolved with simplistic religious platitudes or clichéd political jingoisms.

Have the Philosophical Sciences resolved any uncomfortable issues lately? I have to admit, I've had to let my subscription to 'Uncomfortable Philosophical Issues Monthly' lapse to pay my porn bill.

Now I just get the annual Swimsuit Issue.

 

[RandomPoster]

Have you looked in to the career prospects for a Philosophy major?
Unless you're good enough to be teaching this marginal stuff as an aside to other disciplines, it might be hard to find a job that pays anywhere near the IT level.
Of course, if it's primarily for personal development, go for it!
Somebody said, when Science displaced God as the Truth, (in the 19th century!) that philosophy has been relegated to the realm of semantics. Perhaps you might get more from a linguistics course.

I assure you, I have no intention of quiting my day job in order to pursue this. I still love developing software and have no plans of walking away from it. I have simply always been passionate about the roots of Philosophy and also happen to have a fondness for the much maligned, idealistic philosophy from the early to mid 20th century known as Logical Positivism.

You should do what you feel is right for you, but for my 2cents, at this point it's a matter of what you want to do more than a matter of what career opportunities it might offer. Not sure how old you are, but you say you have had a good career in software, it's probably a little late to start another one in another discipline. You worked hard to be able to make that decision. Doing something just because you want to is your reward.

I understand what you are saying. Like I said, I have no intention of quitiing the job I love that also happens to be paying my bills, and would be paying my tuition as well. I can simply work full time and go to school on the side, taking classes on my own schedule. One thing that I am particularly excited about is what people have been telling me about Philosophy departments recently making a shift away from socially toxic agendas and regaining focus on the practical applications of Philosophy and it's usefulness in vocational pursuits.

Heck, my naive forays into Philosophy as a High School nerd reading Plato later helped inspire me down the obvious path into object-oriented programming as a young adult as it undoubtedly many others in my generation.

 

[Erinwltr]

Have you looked in to the career prospects for a Philosophy major?
Unless you're good enough to be teaching this marginal stuff as an aside to other disciplines, it might be hard to find a job that pays anywhere near the IT level.
Of course, if it's primarily for personal development, go for it!
Somebody said, when Science displaced God as the Truth, (in the 19th century!) that philosophy has been relegated to the realm of semantics. Perhaps you might get more from a linguistics course.

SMH.

 

[gtopa1]

Everything you need to know about Western Philosophy.

RULE NUMBER ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greg

 

[RandomPoster]

Americans have little use for what are not directly lucrative intellectual pursuits. They think they know what 'practical' is and have no resources for seeing outside that tight, constricting box. Any uncomfortable philosophical issues can be resolved with simplistic religious platitudes or clichéd political jingoisms.

To be fair, I understand the viewpoint of necessity. Having thought from a practical mindset when I was younger is the only reason I can even consider going back to school without having to worry about having to borrow money. I never had a credit card until I was married and I didn't buy my house until I could put at least half down. It agonized me and kept me awake at night until I cleared my name from the debt ledger. The borrower is a servant to the lender.

 

[gtopa1]

I was interested in Philosophy, among other things in college, except chose what I deemed the most practical of my interests, Computer Science. I would make the same choice again if given the chance. I dropped out of school to accept a job offer in a different location. After a succesful career in software development , I can afford to go back to school on my own dime and study what I lIke. My question is how far will finishing my bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics go towards fullfilling requirements towards a Science of Philosophy degree?

I did something along that line after a health hiatus from Uni during the 70s. I was very interested in Philosophy after studying a subject on the "Philosophy of Science" at uni and wanted to pursue Philosophy when I was well enough. I was most disappointed when the lecturers turned out to be Marxist apologists and we did virtually nothing on traditional Philo at all. I did attend lectures but ended up at Uni mostly playing Rugby; I left after the year. I have no idea if I passed anything or not that year. I completed my degree part time elsewhere; I was working in Quality Control at a brewery to pay my way through. A most delightful way of supporting myself.

My suggestion? Go for it but check out the orientation of the courses carefully. I would suggest a familiarity with Karl Popper before all else.

Greg

 

[frigidweirdo]

I was interested in Philosophy, among other things in college, except chose what I deemed the most practical of my interests, Computer Science. I would make the same choice again if given the chance. I dropped out of school to accept a job offer in a different location. After a succesful career in software development , I can afford to go back to school on my own dime and study what I lIke. My question is how far will finishing my bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics go towards fullfilling requirements towards a Science of Philosophy degree?

You could. You could potentially take an online course too. There are some abroad you might think of, the Open University in the UK for example, might be a lot cheaper.

 

[BULLDOG]

Have you looked in to the career prospects for a Philosophy major?
Unless you're good enough to be teaching this marginal stuff as an aside to other disciplines, it might be hard to find a job that pays anywhere near the IT level.
Of course, if it's primarily for personal development, go for it!
Somebody said, when Science displaced God as the Truth, (in the 19th century!) that philosophy has been relegated to the realm of semantics. Perhaps you might get more from a linguistics course.

I assure you, I have no intention of quiting my day job in order to pursue this. I still love developing software and have no plans of walking away from it. I have simply always been passionate about the roots of Philosophy and also happen to have a fondness for the much maligned, idealistic philosophy from the early to mid 20th century known as Logical Positivism.

You should do what you feel is right for you, but for my 2cents, at this point it's a matter of what you want to do more than a matter of what career opportunities it might offer. Not sure how old you are, but you say you have had a good career in software, it's probably a little late to start another one in another discipline. You worked hard to be able to make that decision. Doing something just because you want to is your reward.

I understand what you are saying. Like I said, I have no intention of quitiing the job I love that also happens to be paying my bills, and would be paying my tuition as well. I can simply work full time and go to school on the side, taking classes on my own schedule. One thing that I am particularly excited about is what people have been telling me about Philosophy departments recently making a shift away from socially toxic agendas and regaining focus on the practical applications of Philosophy and it's usefulness in vocational pursuits.

Heck, my naive forays into Philosophy as a High School nerd reading Plato later helped inspire me down the obvious path into object-oriented programming as a young adult as it undoubtedly many others in my generation.

You might want to consider an online course or two. Some highly reputable colleges, such as Harvard and MIT have recorded their professors actual class lectures for a wide range of their courses, and put them online for free. It might not be what you are looking for, but it wouldn't hurt to check it out.
edX

 

[RandomPoster]

Any uncomfortable philosophical issues can be resolved with simplistic religious platitudes or clichéd political jingoisms.

Have the Philosophical Sciences resolved any uncomfortable issues lately? I have to admit, I've had to let my subscription to 'Uncomfortable Philosophical Issues Monthly' lapse to pay my porn bill.

Now I just get the annual Swimsuit Issue.

What you have put forth is an example of a false dichotomy. One must not choose one or the other. I can say with authority that pondering deep philosophical issues does not preclude an individual from masturbating to pornography.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

I guess if you want to waste thousands of dollars

Waste? Being educated in a field of interest to someone is a waste?
What is money for, then?

What does one do with a degree in philosophy? May as well get it in basket weaving