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What is Philosophy?
When Socrates exclaimed to his incredulous accusers, “I know you won't believe me, but I truly believe the highest human excellence is to question oneself and others,” he captured the spirit of all philosophical effort. Although philosophy has undergone profound changes since his time, it still seeks to come to terms with the questions and issues provoked by every phase of life, and it produces arguments and accounts bearing on every subject worthy of disciplined reflection.
Philosophy addresses questions like:
- Are there limits to what we can know?
- Can we know by reason that there is or is not a God?
- Why should we be moral?
- What is the best model for government and social organization?
- Are our thoughts and actions free or are they determined by prior events?
- Can anything be known?
Why Study Philosophy?
The ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates, once said that "the unexamined life is not worth living." Philosophy provides students with the tools they need to critically examine their own lives as well as the world in which they live. Philosophers are, by definition, "lovers of wisdom" (from the Greek "philo" = love and "sophia" = wisdom). Have you ever wondered why many of your professors have a Ph.D. or "doctor of philosophy" even if they do not teach philosophy? Philosophy is the oldest academic discipline and as such has no natural boundaries. Philosophers strive to uncover wisdom in every dimension of human existence. The tools one acquires through a philosophical education can be applied to any discipline and will help you to see connections between those disciplines. Consequently, philosophy is of use to students contemplating majors in any field.
The philosophy courses at IU Southeast seek to involve students in clear, reflective thought on philosophical issues of major importance and to introduce them to the ideas of several great philosophers. Want to know more reasons you should study philosophy? Download "Why Study Philosophy?" and read more about it. In the first section of this document, you will find information on the general benefits of studying philosophy. Sections two through four, discuss the advantages philosophy majors have over other majors pursuing a graduate education. Section five contains some links to other perspective on the value of a philosophical education.
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