What Is Philosophy?
The word “philosophy” derives from the Ancient Greek words philo sophia, or “love of wisdom.” Philosophy seeks to advance our understanding of ourselves and of the nature of reality, mind, knowledge and morality. It deals with fundamental questions about these topics, critically investigating what other disciplines, and other human activities, take for granted.
Our courses give you the opportunity to study the writings of major western philosophers such as 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. You will learn to interpret and evaluate such writings and also 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.
Through the study of philosophy, you’ll develop your capacity to understand, criticize and construct arguments; to analyze and solve problems; to understand views and perspectives different from your own; and to elaborate on your ideas and present them in a clear, coherent and well-organized form
For more detailed information, see Philosophy: A Brief Guide for Undergraduates (American Philosophical Association).
The great virtue of philosophy is that it teaches not what to think, but how to think.
The Times of London
College Spotlights Philosophy Major
In October 2018, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences directed its monthly spotlight on Harrison Payne, a philosophy major. Harrison will be graduating with a B.S. in Philosophy, a B.S. in Physics and a B.S. in Mathematics in December 2018. Read more
What Can I Do With Philosophy?
An undergraduate major or minor in philosophy provides excellent preparation for
- jobs that require critical and constructive thinking, including administration, consulting, editing, journalism, management, public service, research – and business, institutional, nonprofit or political leadership;
- professional training in fields as diverse as law, library science, management, medicine, nursing and clinical psychology;
- graduate programs in fields closely related to philosophy, such as computer science and political science; and
- graduate programs in philosophy (which can lead to employment in universities and colleges as well as in corporate, non-profit, and government organizations that require skills of research and analysis that are developed by advanced study in philosophy).
Because today’s world is changing so rapidly, most students will probably have several different kinds of jobs during their working careers, including jobs we can’t even yet imagine. Training for specific jobs in fields in which there may be little demand after ten or twenty years will not serve your long-term interests as well as the transferable knowledge and skills you will develop through the study of philosophy.
For more information, see:
- Best Careers for Philosophy Majors (BestColleges.com)
- Philosophy is a Great Major (Institute for Philosophy in Public Life, University of North Dakota)
- What Can I Do With A Humanities Degree? (Although this article is about the humanities in general, it includes a lot of useful information that is specifically about philosophy.)
As a medical student at Johns Hopkins, my degree in philosophy at NC State has been incredibly valuable, perhaps even more so than my training in the medical sciences. Whether I'm presenting a difficult case to my team or talking with patients about their values and goals for care, I'm applying the lessons I learned from philosophy every day in the hospital.
William Coe, BS in Philosophy, Minor in Ethics, Minor in Biological Sciences (2014)
2017 Leader of the Pack is a Philosophy Major
Victor Eduardo, 2017 Leader of the Pack, explains why he's a philosophy major: "I’ve always had strengths in analytical thinking and logic but also loved writing and interpersonal communication. Through some research, I realized that philosophy was a great way to capitalize on these strengths and interests. Philosophy is such a holistic and versatile major, and I knew it was a perfect fit for me because of how it would give me the lessons to be a more virtuous person, question the world around me, and critically think through challenges. I’ve learned to love the way it teaches me to argue effectively, communicate my perspectives to others and move them toward a more inclusive community with the power of word and thought. I often leave my philosophy classes with my brain tingling with new ideas and paradoxes to ponder, and many of them have changed the way I see the world for the better."
By mid-career, people with majors in philosophy earn more than those with majors in most other disciplines.
Statistics published in the Wall Street Journal show that the median mid-career incomes of philosophy majors are higher than those of people with 34 out of 49 other majors.Examine the statistics
The Practical Value of Philosophy
Studying philosophy opens doors to many different careers. Lawyers, doctors and executives often begin their secondary education by studying philosophy, but it can prepare you for far more. Here are some interesting facts:
- College graduates with a major in philosophy have better long-term salary prospects than those with majors in many other disciplines, including agriculture, biology, business management, chemistry, communication, history, English, psychology, public relations, sociology and spanish. See Philosophy Pays and Salary Increase by Major.
- Philosophy majors in general tend to register higher scores on objective tests such as the GRE (required for admission to graduate school), the LSAT (required for admission to law school), and the GMAT (required for admission to MBA programs). See Value of Philosophy: Charts and Graphs (Daily Nous) and Best Majors for GRE Scores in 2013: Philosophy Dominates (Physics Central Blog).
- Students with majors in philosophy have a better chance of getting accepted to medical school than those with most other majors. See Major Anxiety.
- Skills developed in the study of philosophy have significant benefits in the world of work as well as in professional training. Many articles relevant to such benefits have appeared recently in public media. Here are a few examples:
- The Most Important Skills for the 4th Industrial Revolution? Try Ethics and Philosophy (EdSurge, October 2018)
- Philosophy Prepared Me for a Career in Finance and Government by Robert E. Rubin, Secretary of the Treasury, 1995-99 (The New York Times, April 2018)
- I Work Therefore I Am: Why Businesses are Hiring Philosophers (The Guardian, March 2018)
- NPR's White House Reporter Tells Grads A Secret to Her Success (California Magazine, May 2014) (Tamara Keith mentions the value of her philosophy major for her career in journalism.)
- The Unexpected Way Philosophy Majors are Changing the World of Business (Huff Post College, March 2014)
- Be Employable, Study Philosophy (Salon, July 2013)
Having the NC State B.A. in Philosophy with a Concentration in Philosophy of Law on my resume has been an opener in my job interviews. Interviewers in the legal field have been impressed with this qualification.
Tyler Chriscoe, B.A. in Philosophy with a Concentration in Philosophy of Law and B.A. in Political Science (2012), D.Juris. (William and Mary Law School, 2016), Attorney, Van Camp, Meacham & Newman, PLLC
Why Science Needs Philosophy
This article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA argues that philosophy can have an important and productive impact on science.Read more
Why NC State?
NC State offers an extensive range of undergraduate courses in philosophy and logic, a selection of five major programs in philosophy and a number of minors in philosophy and related fields. Several courses are available to NC State graduate students in any field.
NC State philosophy graduates have gone on to succeed in business, law, medicine, science, academia and a wide variety of other fields. Our graduates not only become familiar with core fields of philosophy such as ethics, the history of philosophy, logic, metaphysics and theory of knowledge, but also learn to apply philosophy and philosophical reasoning to real-world problems.
The NC State philosophy faculty includes experts in a wide range of fields who make an ongoing contribution to the advancement of knowledge and understanding in philosophy and have published many books and articles.
Because we do not have a graduate program in philosophy, our main focus is on undergraduates. All our courses are taught and graded by highly-qualified faculty who are committed to excellence in undergraduate education. Several of these faculty members have won teaching awards.
All philosophy majors at NC State are required to complete individual research and writing projects in three areas of philosophy. These projects give students the opportunity to develop and defend a position of their own under the supervision of a faculty member with relevant expertise.
I came to NC State just hoping to finish my degree. What I discovered was a faculty that understood my passion for learning and encouraged me to grow.
Madison Behar, B.A. in Philosophy (2013)
Philosophy Alum Becomes Investment Expert
“From the time I was a kid,” says Rufus Rankin, “I wanted to pursue philosophy or become a professional investor.” Since graduating from NC State with a B.A. in Philosophy in 1999, he has discovered that he can do both.
Rufus is now a portfolio manager and the Director of Research at Equinox Institutional Asset Management, a boutique investment firm in Princeton, NJ. He sees his background in philosophy as a key factor in his success.
"I would not want to be an accountant right now. I would rather be a philosophy major."
Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, co-owner of 2929 Entertainment and chairman of the AXS TVRead More
Consider Your Options
Studying philosophy can be valuable for students in all kinds of fields. Whether you’re studying a different subject at NC State and want to change majors or add a second major or a minor, or you’re looking to make the switch from another institution or community college, we have options to suit you.
The capacity to think critically about, well, everything, is the single most valuable tool I have, and for me, philosophy provides that foundation.
Ashley Pridgen, BA in Philosophy with a Concentration in Ethics (2013)