As intersession ends, I'm gearing up for my last semester at Hopkins. While many of my classes are undecided, there is one that won't change. By taking the philosophy seminar, I will finally complete my major here at Hopkins. I'm not planning on going to graduate school for philosophy so this could feasibly be the last class I take in analytic philosophy. So in an effort to reminisce upon all the good times we've had, I've decided to write this blog on my decision to major in philosophy and the program we have at Hopkins.
I don't remember exactly when I decided to major in philosophy, but I do remember when the idea occurred. I was speaking with a college counselor about my favorite subjects and how I loved learning about history, politics, english, psychology and even enjoyed math on the rare occasion. After a bit of discussion, my counselor mentioned that a major like philosophy could offer the opportunity to synthesize the topics and allow me to pursue many of my interests under the auspices of the same broad major. Considering that philosophy is etymological broken down into a love of wisdom, it is only appropriate that the discipline allows you to delve into a variety of subjects in the hopes of increasing wisdom. But at the core, the study of philosophy is not just about gaining knowledge of other subjects but examining knowledge itself. It is the study of reason, understanding, and existence.
Philosophy is typically classified as ancient or modern, with many different subsections. As an undergraduate philosophy major at Hopkins, one must take both a class in history of ancient philosophy and history of modern philosophy followed by a class in each of the following groups of topics 1) logic, philosophy of science, philosophy of mathematics; 2) philosophy of the mind, theory of knowledge, philosophy of language, metaphysics; and 3) ethics, aesthetics, and political philosophy. The two history of philosophy classes combined with the 3 aforementioned classes make up 5 of the total 12 classes you need to major in philosophy. The last predetermined class is the undergraduate philosophy seminar, which I will be taking this spring. This year it is called Morality of Law and will be taught by Professor Moyar, my adviser. After completing those classes, you must take 5 more electives. As long as 6 of the total 12 classes are 300 level or above, the philosophy major can be completed.
Besides those general guidelines, you really have a lot of options with which classes you are able to take. In fact, in the past when I've been registering for my courses and discover classes in other majors that seem philosophical, I've been able to approach my adviser and ask if I can receive credit for them. Most of the time this has been worth it. I've taken The Social Contract and Its Discontents, a political theory course in the political science department, as well as Western Intellectual Thought (1200-1500) which was a course in the history department. They also frequently offer many cross-listed courses in the Humanities Center which can apply to philosophy as well. One such course that was called Do Miracles Still Occur? which I believe was cross listed with philosophy, anthropology, and possibly even German and Romance Languages. There are great opportunities within the department and even outside the department to pursue one's interests.
One of my favorite philosophy courses was Bioethics which allowed us to discuss and debate a variety of subjects from patient/doctor relationships to end of life care. Professor Hillary Bok would discuss the topic while frequently posing questions to the large lecture of students. It was great to so candidly what can sometimes be seen as tense subjects. I really enjoyed the lecture as well as the papers we had to write which were more argument-based. One for example was on organ donation and whether competent adults should be allowed to donate body parts and organs while still living. Another was on the case of misattributed paternity and whether or not a woman's partner should be informed the results of a paternity test. While many philosophy courses are more abstract often discussing one philosopher's conception of knowledge or understanding of existence, this class offered a way to apply the skills we learned from writing logically coherent arguments to practical issues of the day.
Philosophy is grounded in logic, and many philosophers were brilliant mathematicians. For example, Gottfried Leibniz invented the infinitesimal calculus. With such history, it is considered very important to develop strong logical foundations for one's arguments, even supporting them with mathematical proofs. My History of Philosophy and Geometry class allowed us to examine a variety of philosophers' mathematical groundings and reasoning. We studied Euclid, Hobbes, and even Berkeley. My final paper ended up being on George Berkley's objections to the infinitesimal calculus, in which I actually used math to prove points. Crazy, huh?
In the end, many people do ask me why I decided to major in philosophy. After all, I love politics and am not going to pursue a graduate degree in the subject, what does this major offer me that others don't? Is it really worth the time I spend in the library agonizing over Spinoza's arguments while attempting to sort out the Ethics, talking through the intricacies and acting crazy while attempting to search for a thesis? The answer is a most definite yes. Not only have I established a solid understanding of many classic works and can now make appropriate references during high-minded dinner parties, but I have become a stronger thinker and writer. The importance of a logical argument and the methods of examination reviewed and studied with repetition allow me to apply what I've learned in whatever I choose to pursue. Reading Descartes' Meditations in First Philosophy has enabled me to understand the strict and rigorous methods of doubt needed to prove the truth. If I decide to go to law school or even if I become a political speech writer, I am confident that I will be able to apply my skills in order to achieve success. And, it's not just me that has jumped on the philosophical bandwagon. Make sure to check out this New York Times Article entitled In A New Generation of College Students, Many Opt for the Life Examined. Until next time...
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