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What classes should I take to study Philosophy?
I am a freshman in High school and was wondering what would be good classes to take in high school and in college to become a Philosopher? I have been interested in asking questions about life and the world around us, and was wondering if there is certain classes to take for this. #philosophy #academic-advising #high-school-classes
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Ken’s Answer
It's great that you are considering the role of wisdom lover! (Philo means "love," and sophia means "wisdom," so philosopher means "lover of wisdom.")
Philosophy focuses on 3 major types of questions:
1. What is the nature of reality? (metaphysics and ontology)
2. What should we do in life? (ethics and anthropology)
3. What do we really know and how? (epistemology and logic)
For each of these huge questions, I have some still big questions:
1. If the world is just physical matter like atoms and forces like gravity, why do these things exist and not other things? If the Big Bang started it all, what was there before the Big Bang? Why is there anything instead of nothing? How can lifeless, simpler things like atoms organize into something more complex and create life and minds? Is there a God? If God exists and is a perfect being, how can he possibly create an imperfect world?
2. What type of work does the most good in the world? Is it good to be traditional and get married and have kids, or is it better to do something else with your life? Should we do what makes us most happy? What makes us happy? Are we more happy when we do what feels good or what is more meaningful? Is it better to do what feels most meaningful or makes other people suffer less? How should society be set up so that the people in it are happy? How can we balance freedom and equality when they are often opposed?
3. What is the best way to figure out the truth? How does science work? Are there other important ways of knowing besides the scientific method? What are the best ways of testing a scientific theory? What is better to learn by experience and what is better to learn through study? If we change our habits, do we know the world in a different way?
Philosophy often uses argument and logic to find the answers to these questions. A basic argument contains a Claim, Evidence, and a Reason. A Claim is what someone thinks the truth might be, the Evidence is facts that support the claim, and the Reason is why the evidence supports the Claim.
Any classes, books, or YouTube videos that relate to these questions and this way of answering the questions will be helpful. I recommend any science, history class, or social studies class. Look for AP Language and Composition because it goes deep into creating arguments. Understand the arguments behind politics. Read about the history of philosophy, starting with the pre-Socrates all the way up to Thomas Nagel. Read aboout the history of humanity, all the way back to ancient cavemen. How does our way of living now stray from what we evolved for? What have we made better?
Most important: learn to WRITE arguments. When you write about your claims, evidence, and reason, you find the weaknesses in each and make them stronger. Find a way to make your writing interesting to readers. Then READ some more and find better arguments. Then, WRITE some more. This virtuous cycle is the key to fulfilling the essential social role of wisdom lover.
Good luck!
Philosophy focuses on 3 major types of questions:
1. What is the nature of reality? (metaphysics and ontology)
2. What should we do in life? (ethics and anthropology)
3. What do we really know and how? (epistemology and logic)
For each of these huge questions, I have some still big questions:
1. If the world is just physical matter like atoms and forces like gravity, why do these things exist and not other things? If the Big Bang started it all, what was there before the Big Bang? Why is there anything instead of nothing? How can lifeless, simpler things like atoms organize into something more complex and create life and minds? Is there a God? If God exists and is a perfect being, how can he possibly create an imperfect world?
2. What type of work does the most good in the world? Is it good to be traditional and get married and have kids, or is it better to do something else with your life? Should we do what makes us most happy? What makes us happy? Are we more happy when we do what feels good or what is more meaningful? Is it better to do what feels most meaningful or makes other people suffer less? How should society be set up so that the people in it are happy? How can we balance freedom and equality when they are often opposed?
3. What is the best way to figure out the truth? How does science work? Are there other important ways of knowing besides the scientific method? What are the best ways of testing a scientific theory? What is better to learn by experience and what is better to learn through study? If we change our habits, do we know the world in a different way?
Philosophy often uses argument and logic to find the answers to these questions. A basic argument contains a Claim, Evidence, and a Reason. A Claim is what someone thinks the truth might be, the Evidence is facts that support the claim, and the Reason is why the evidence supports the Claim.
Any classes, books, or YouTube videos that relate to these questions and this way of answering the questions will be helpful. I recommend any science, history class, or social studies class. Look for AP Language and Composition because it goes deep into creating arguments. Understand the arguments behind politics. Read about the history of philosophy, starting with the pre-Socrates all the way up to Thomas Nagel. Read aboout the history of humanity, all the way back to ancient cavemen. How does our way of living now stray from what we evolved for? What have we made better?
Most important: learn to WRITE arguments. When you write about your claims, evidence, and reason, you find the weaknesses in each and make them stronger. Find a way to make your writing interesting to readers. Then READ some more and find better arguments. Then, WRITE some more. This virtuous cycle is the key to fulfilling the essential social role of wisdom lover.
Good luck!
Alice Foster McCallum
Higher Education Advisor and Communications Professional
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Alice Foster’s Answer
Your interest in understanding life and the world around us will serve you well, no matter what field of study you choose! You will have an academic advisor in college that will help guide you through course selection at that level, so I would recommend that you defer those choices until you are working with someone who can get to know you and your specific goals and interests better, although I will tell you that your classes are likely to be heavily focused in the humanities. In high school, you should work toward taking a broad range of classes across disciplines that expose you to different schools of thought—“life” covers a lot of ground—and that challenge you academically so that you have a strong foundation for your college experience.
Alice Foster recommends the following next steps:
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Dr Marlene’s Answer
I studied philosophy as an undergraduate and never regretted one moment of it--even though my parents worried about whether I would be job worthy!These studies prepared me for the very satisfying career I had in other fields, and I'm so glad to know about your interest in studying philosophy.
Above all, be prepared to think -- a lot! Develop your skill in looking at ideas from all angles. Build your ability to comprehend difficult reading material that will dig deep in to ideas that you may never have considered before. Build patience with yourself as you try to make sense of what you are reading.
If possible, try to learn something about the lives of the philosophers--especially the ancient ones--to get a better appreciation for their thinking. What made their ideas so significant at their time? How do those ideas influence us today? How would our world be different without those ideas? Then, when it is time for you to read their works, you will have some "feel" for what they are writing.
You might begin by learning about what kinds of things philosophers think about. Discover the categories of topics that philosophers write about. There may not be a course offered at your high school, but these are things your local or school librarian can help you find. You might like to read two books to get you started.
1) Metaphysical Horror by Leszek Kolakowski
2) A Short History of Ethics by Alasdair MacIntyre
Best wishes on your thinking journey!
Above all, be prepared to think -- a lot! Develop your skill in looking at ideas from all angles. Build your ability to comprehend difficult reading material that will dig deep in to ideas that you may never have considered before. Build patience with yourself as you try to make sense of what you are reading.
If possible, try to learn something about the lives of the philosophers--especially the ancient ones--to get a better appreciation for their thinking. What made their ideas so significant at their time? How do those ideas influence us today? How would our world be different without those ideas? Then, when it is time for you to read their works, you will have some "feel" for what they are writing.
You might begin by learning about what kinds of things philosophers think about. Discover the categories of topics that philosophers write about. There may not be a course offered at your high school, but these are things your local or school librarian can help you find. You might like to read two books to get you started.
1) Metaphysical Horror by Leszek Kolakowski
2) A Short History of Ethics by Alasdair MacIntyre
Best wishes on your thinking journey!