Why Philosophy?

Philosophy is simply worth studying for its own sake. But philosophy is not just about philosophy and it can be applied in many non鈥恆cademic careers and personal pursuits.

  • Philosophy provides great academic preparation for advance study in graduate school;
  • Philosophy is of great value, especially when coupled with a secondary major, for a variety of non鈥恆cademic careers (with very good lifetime earning potential!)

Philosophy focuses on questions that are fundamental for all people: How should we live? What gives our lives meaning and purpose? Philosophy seeks to give rigorous, well thought out answers to these questions, or, at least, to help us frame the right approaches in the search for truth. Philosophy has this basic value regardless of the career we pursue. Although college and university teaching have been the primary career options for philosophers, they are not the only options!

What Marquette Philosophy graduates do

Philosophy majors spend their college years pondering deep questions, such as: What is the meaning of life? Do we have free will? And what job am I going to get with this degree after graduation? It turns out the last question isn鈥檛 hard to answer: Just about anything. T. Rees Shapiro, Education Reporter, Washington Post, 2017

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Andrew, BA in Philosophy, 2019

Studying Philosophy at Marquette has markedly enhanced my ability to think critically, develop/analyze arguments, and communicate effectively in ways that apply to any and all professional contexts. Yet, even more importantly, such an endeavor provided invaluable lessons in how to live one's life (both individually and collectively). There aren't concrete answers, but you're supplied with the tools to productively grapple with the fundamental questions. Engaging in Philosophy is an activity that, much like love, music, and art, gives life its value. I am forever indebted to the Philosophy Department for the helpful mentoring, letters of recommendation, and addressing my pedantic questions.

Daniel, PhD in Philosophy, 2016

Instructor and Chairperson
Departments of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Victor Valley College

When I was hired at Victor Valley College, members of my hiring committee said that my PhD from 蜜桃影像 made me an attractive candidate. I know that I would not be where I am today without it.  I would like to express my gratitude to the Philosophy Department and the faculty for their support while I was a graduate student, especially the members of my dissertation committee: Dr. Owen Goldin, Dr. Michael Wreen, and Dr. Noel Adams.   

Jess, BA in Philosophy, 2011

Food blogger and digital team member for Target and Kohl's Corp

Studying Philosophy at Marquette fundamentally transformed both who I am as a person and how I view the world around me. But let鈥檚 cut to the chase: everyone says you鈥檙e a fool to study the Arts these days. Business, Science & Technology are the future. What my experience has taught me, though, is that it鈥檚 not so much what you study, but how you apply it to what you do. Studying philosophy as an undergraduate, while engaging in discussion through lectures and seminars honed my ability to think critically, unpack complex arguments, and feel comfortable reaching the best possible decisions in situations with a lot of 鈥済ray-area鈥 or ambiguity, as my Philosophy professors used to say. These skills, when honed well, are indisputably valuable in any profession and helped me gain the reputation as a strategic asset in the Fortune 500 teams for which I鈥檝e worked post-graduate. They鈥檙e also foundational to the business I鈥檓 currently building as an entrepreneur in the digital space.

Brian, minor in Philosophy, 2011

Public Service Fellow and Journals Coordinator in Fordham University's Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development

In my previous work in marketing and communications, a background in philosophy was extremely helpful in encouraging the kind of rigorous thinking that allows one to look at problems from a variety of perspectives and raise new questions. While my current status as a graduate student studying international political economy and development might sound far more analytical on the surface, the field actually benefits from an ability to interpret information and issues with the conscientious open-mindedness philosophy champions. In a complex world with complex problems and complex solutions, a foundation in philosophy is invaluable.

Catlyn, PhD in Philosophy, 2016

Senior Content Marketing Manager at Sojern, a tech company that specializes in advertising for the travel industry in San Francisco

Though I left academic philosophy, many of the skills serve me well at work. I'm seen as a 'rock star' because of my ability to read, write, and present coherently and enthusiastically鈥攕omething that I learned to do in years of writing papers and presenting in philosophy. I also find that the ability to question, something instilled by philosophy, is highly valued in the tech world: asking why we are doing something, what purpose it will serve, why we value that purpose as important, etc. Being an academic philosopher certainly led me away from philosophy; nonetheless, the skills I honed over years of reading, writing, and thinking serve me very, very well in the tech industry. 

Daniel, PhD in Philosophy, 2014

Software Developer at Digital Measures; also President and Lead Instructor of Capoeira Nago Milwaukee, a non-profit organization devoted to advancing the Afro-Brazilian martial art of capoeira.

My training in philosophy is a big help in staying focused on the big picture, both in my personal life and in my work. I can function on auto-pilot if I want or need to, letting my habits or professional expectations guide me; or I can turn it off, take a critical stance, adopt a different perspective (or several), re-evaluate, and take it from there.

Dr. Desiree Valentine, BA in Philosophy, 2010

Assistant Professor of Philosophy, 蜜桃影像

I am fortunate to have first been introduced to the field of philosophy through diverse schools of thought such as Africana, Feminist, and Latinx Philosophy. My first philosophy course was Africana Philosophy at Marquette, which inspired interest in other transformative areas of philosophy. These were the most formative in my journey through undergraduate and graduate school. I am now an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at 蜜桃影像 where my research lies at the intersection of Critical Philosophy of Race, Feminist Philosophy, Philosophy of Disability, and Bioethics. I am delighted to be back at Marquette, thinking and engaging with folks in a place I call home.

Elise, minor in Philosophy, 2012

PhD in Biophysics, UC-Berkeley 2018

Philosophy at Marquette opened up my world: It provided a framework for me to think about what it means to be human, to question how we know what we know, to think in organized and logical ways, and to understand what it means to be good. Lessons for a lifetime.

 

What Can Philosophy Do for You?

  • Valuable Skills
  • Big Questions
  • High Scores
  • Careers and Salaries

Your parents might have worried when you chose philosophy as a major. But graduates in philosophy earned 103.5% more about 10 years post-commencement.



"What a continuously giving gift philosophy has been... If you can extract, and abstract, underlying assumptions or superordinate principles, or reason through to the implications of arguments, you can identify and address issues in a myriad of fields."



Information is easy to acquire, and much will soon be obsolete. What is valuable is not the content of a major, but rather the ability to think with and through that information.



The discipline teaches you how to think clearly, a gift that can be applied to any line of work.



If you're getting a liberal arts degree, you're actually in more demand than those who are getting finance and accounting degrees.

Ever wondered if...

  • Whether abortion/affirmative action/capitalism is right or wrong?

So have we! Believe it or not, we've made progress and we have answers鈥攍ots of them鈥攂acked up with reasons. Come join humanity's conversation before life gets in the way and you die wondering.

Consider this question:

Bertrand Russell:

Thinking about graduate school? Add up the three sections: Philosophy majors have the highest score on the GRE.



How about business school? Philosophy majors outperform majors in economics, statistics, finance, accounting, etc.



Need that J.D.? Philosophy is a better bet than political science, pre-law, and anything starting with "business."



Philosophers enjoy the best chance of admission to medical school of any major.

Figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show philosophy graduates are in growing demand from employers.



Most of management theory is inane, writes the founder of a consulting firm. If you want to succeed in business, don鈥檛 get an M.B.A. Study philosophy instead.



Courses like "Why Capitalism?" push students to ponder business in a broader context, and address a common complaint of employers, who say recent graduates are trained to solve single problems but miss the big picture.

Compiled by Toma虂s Bogardus