Studying Philosophy at York College

Students pursuing a major in philosophy critically study the abiding questions facing humankind: What is the nature of God? Why be moral? Is there an afterlife? What is beauty? What is truth? What is justice? What does it mean to know? Philosophy majors at York College develop a comprehensive knowledge of the history of philosophy and the representative philosophical problems and issues of the discipline. They study some of the world’s greatest literature, including masterpieces by such diverse thinkers as Plato, Augustine, Descartes, Marx, Nietzsche, Derrida, and Foucault. Along the way, they come to understand the extent to which philosophers have influenced and shaped the development of science, art, literature, politics, education, and theology. The study of philosophy develops analytical, critical, and interpretive abilities, cultivating a student’s capacities for reflection and self-expression. The study of philosophy further enhances the student’s capacity to apply philosophical methods to intellectual problems across academic fields of study.

The study of philosophy is excellent preparation for careers that demand careful reading, critical thinking, and decision-making abilities. A major in philosophy provides a solid foundation for students planning careers in medicine, law, education, and business. Philosophy majors are among the top performers on the Law School Aptitude Test and the Medical College Aptitude Test. Philosophy majors also succeed in executive and management sectors of business that require the ability to assimilate information, analyze situations, and produce effective solutions to complex problems.

Why Study Philosophy?

Students are usually drawn to the study of philosophy because of their intrinsic interest in the discipline and the kinds of questions of it raises.

The Philosophy Major at York College

Philosophy and Religious Studies Courses

Introductory Courses

Introduction to Philosophy
Critical Thinking
Contemporary Moral Problems
Philosophy and Human Nature
Environmental Ethics
Ancient to Early Modern Philosophy
The Enlightenment to Postmodern Philosophy
Race, Gender and Sexuality

Advanced Courses

Epistemology
Metaphysics
Ethics
Ethics in the Workplace
Bioethics
Ethical Issues in Peace and Conflict
Feminist Philosophy
Philosophy of Law
Philosophy of Religion
Philosophy of Technology
Aesthetics
Philosophy of Film
Philosophy Seminar

Special Topics Courses

The Digital Culture
Images of Power
Philosophy of Mind
Existentialism
Eastern Religions

Religious Studies Courses

World Religions
Tradition and Culture of Judaism
Tradition and Culture of Christianity
Religion, Society, and Culture
Women and Religion
Islam

Cross-listed Courses

Literary Theory
Rhetorical Theory
Ancient Political Thought
Modern Political Thought
Science and Religion

Professor Kraft works primarily in ethical and applied ethics (specifically medical/bioethics and business ethics). He has additional interests in aesthetics, 19^th and 20^th century German philosophy, and philosophy with children. He is co-editor of the journal Questions: Philosophy for Young People and is currently working on a collection of materials related to the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Adult Male Negro.

She received her M.A. and M.Phil. from Syracuse University and is currently working on her dissertation, entitled "The Body of Love: Conceiving Perfection in the Oneida Community." The dissertation incorporates many of her research and teaching interests, including the history of religion, specifically in the American context, religion and sexuality, religion and utopia, and religious conceptions of time. Her broader interests include the history of the academic study of religion. Recent presentations include "The Violence of Love: Eros, Transgression, and Religion in Georges Bataille" and "Master(Mistress)/Slave: Reading Power and Dialectic in Hegel and Masoch."

Professor Taylor's areas of research are in religious theory, comparative literature, and philosophy. He is the author or editor of seven projects: Para/Inquiry: Postmodern Religion and Culture (Routledge 2000), The Encyclopedia of Postmodernism with Charles E. Winquist (Routledge 2000), Postmodernism: Critical Concepts (Routledge 2001), The Religious Pray, The Profane Swear (PenMark Press 2002), Jean-Francois Lyotard: Critical Assessment with Gregg Lambert (Routledge 2006), Religion, Myth, and Literature ( University of Virginia Press, 2008), and Rhetoric/Culture/Theory (Davies Group Publishers 2009).

B.A., Emory University; Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin,

Professor Weiss has interests in philosophical anthropology, philosophy of technology, and the posthuman. He is the editor of Interpreting Man and has published articles on human nature, the digital culture, and human enhancement technologies. Among the courses he regularly teaches are Epistemology, the study of knowledge and truth, and Metaphysics, which examines the intersection of philosophy and science fiction. He is currently department chair.

Religious Studies

The attempt to understand the various aspects of religion, especially through the use of other intellectual disciplines. . . . The student of religions attempts not only to know the variety of beliefs and practices of homo religiosus (“religious man”), but also to understand the structure, nature, and dynamics of religious experience. The student of religion attempts to discover principles that operate throughout religious life—on the analogy of a sociologist seeking the laws of human social behaviour—to find out whether there are also laws that operate in the religious sphere. Only with the attempt to discern the system and structure binding together the differentiated historical richness of religion does a true science of religion, or Religionswissenschaft, begin. --Encyclopedia Britannica

Religious Studies Students

I chose to be a Religious Studies minor because I’ve always had a fascination with different religions. I wanted to explore the realm of the unknown. Being a religious studies minor helps me to comprehend religions outside of my comfort zone and my own practicing faith. Being a religious studies minor doesn’t help me to simply define God; it helps me to conceptualize understandings and views of God and the world around us within the views/beliefs of other religions. Religion for me is the threshold to understanding myself and others around me. It is a study that causes one to think outside of the box, question the known, explore history, play devil’s advocate; it is a study that creates instead of reinforcing. I LOVE being a RELIGIOUS STUDIES minor.

Rasharria L. Emery

I chose to become a religious studies minor at York College because I have an interest in learning about diverse cultures, and I view religion as a major shaping force of culture and society. Although religion has impacted society for millennia, it has never been more important than it is in today’s era of globalization and strained international relations. Furthermore, upon graduation, my plan is to attend law school. The religious studies minor helps to develop the analytical and critical thinking skills that are so widely sought after in the legal profession.

Nicolas B. Myers

As a Behavioral Science major with a strong interest in anthropology, I initially took World Religions as a means to further investigate and understand different cultures. While my anthropological goal was accomplished through the course, I soon found that I loved the study of religion. Through taking more Religious Studies classes, I have now discovered a totally different and exciting lens through which to analyze people and their cultures. Furthermore, the study of religion allows me to incorporate many disciplines into my studies- from philosophy and history all the way to the sciences, I cannot help but broaden my academic horizons through participating in the Religious Studies minor. Finally, in our ever-shrinking, globally-minded world, it becomes increasingly important to understand the driving force of many people’s lives- their religion- in order to peacefully coexist.

Emily A. Seitz

Careers and Philosophy

"What can I do with a degree in Philosophy?" The answer to this question would be, “Anything that any Liberal Arts major can do, and maybe more!” Because Philosophy tends to attract better-than-average students, B.A. graduates are found in government, business and service professions, and in graduate and professional studies such as law, medicine, and the ministry, as well as academic disciplines such as Philosophy, English, Anthropology, Psychology. The choice of career course is limited only by the individual’s personal design.

Philosophy majors are trained to think hard, to think both creatively and critically about their understanding of things, as well as about the perceptions of others. They are trained to listen carefully, to ingest information, to analyze information, to assess information for pertinent solutions, and to communicate their responses clearly, concisely, and honestly. This specific training, coupled with the broader academics of a solid Liberal Arts curriculum, contributes to great academic success according to results from such tests as the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), LSAT (Law School Admissions Test), and GMAT (General Management Admissions Test).

Transferrable skills such as the ability to objectively analyze, efficiently organize, competently communicate (both orally and in writing), and thoroughly research contribute positively to a Philosophy major’s marketability in law, teaching, diplomacy, public service, publishing, journalism, the ministry, the social or natural sciences, mathematics, business, or the arts.

Because of the rigorous practice it provides in logic, the analysis of abstract conceptual relationships, and the interpretation of difficult texts, a philosophy major develops exactly the qualities that employers and graduate schools in many fields seek in their future leaders. In addition to preparing one for graduate study in philosophy, a philosophy major is one of the best preparations available for graduate study in law, business, and education, as well for a wide range of positions in business, journalism, publishing, government, and ministry. According to US Department of Education studies:

Do your parents and friends say that a philosophy major will be a disadvantage in getting a good professional job and developing a successful career after college? Then show them this.

College students usually become interested in philosophy in their first year of college after exposure to one or more courses in the field. The interest in possibly majoring or minoring in philosophy is usually a response to all that is intrinsically interesting in the subject matter of philosophy: its attempt to grapple with the hardest questions of human existence, to make sense of reality and our place in the cosmos, to give systematic form to our ethical and political intuitions, to explain the history of human ideas, and so on. The questions philosophy addresses are intrinsically interesting in themselves, and their study is often personally very rewarding for students in forming their own beliefs, value-judgments, and life commitments. But students exploring the possibility of further study in philosophy are forced to ask whether this pursuit will help them earn a living. Skeptical parents, understandably concerned for their children's economic well-being, may strongly dissuade them from majoring or minoring in philosophy. Contrary to popular belief, however, a philosophy major is one of the best preparations possible for careers in a large number of different areas. As statistical research shows, desirable employers throughout the country know this and hire graduates with majors and minors in philosophy all the time.

Law. Philosophy is one of the best—if not the best—majors you can choose to prepare you for law school, or other work in legal fields. It prepares you not only for the kinds of logical reasoning and conceptual analysis necessary to do well in law school, but also teaches you the ethical and political traditions which underlie our legal system. Philosophy majors consistently score highly on the LSAT relative to students majoring in other fields. If you wish to combine legal work with other specializations, such as biotechnology, environmental science, communications, or foreign languages, consider a philosophy minor to supplement your major, and this will help make you more attractive to law schools. Furthermore, students with a philosophy major are often qualified for paralegal work with only the BA degree. Also of interest: two of the Philosophy Department's full-time faculty members—in addition to holding Ph.D.'s in philosophy—also have law degrees: Michael Baur (J.D. from Harvard University) and Charles Kelbley (J.D. from Fordham University).

Teaching. Philosophy and critical thinking courses are taught at the community college level and at virtually every public and private four-year college and research university in the country, as well as at some public and private high schools. A philosophy minor can be an excellent addition to the portfolio of someone planning to teach in another humanities area in high school, and a philosophy major can prepare you to teach general humanities courses in public and private high schools. Teaching at the college level requires an advanced degree, building on work that usually begins with an undergraduate philosophy major.

Journalism. Philosophy is one of the best possible majors for aspiring journalists, especially at schools that may not offer a separate Journalism major. Aside from teaching you to write well, analyze facts critically, and developing your research skills, courses in ethics, political philosophy, and the history of ideas expand your conceptual repertoire and provide essential background knowledge for informed journalists whose work will make a positive contribution towards educating their society. Although it is also advisable to work on a student paper and get practical experience writing for journals and magazines, a philosophy major can gives you a solid foundation for becoming an insightful and persuasive writer. For this reason also, even if your are majoring in Communications, Media, or a Journalism program, a philosophy minor may be an invaluable addition to your training for a career in journalism.

Publishing. The diverse world of publishing employs many people with backgrounds in the humanities, including philosophy majors. From editors in charge of list-building at university presses, to agents working in education publishing, to acquisitions staff at large publishing houses with substantial non-fiction lists, to managing editors responsible for finding and selecting material for more specialized magazines and journals, there are many different sorts of opportunities open in the diverse world of publishing. Any major in humanities, including philosophy, is usually seen as good preparation for work in many of these different areas.

Politics and Public Policy. Like political science or government, a philosophy major is often excellent preparation for positions in state or national civil services, policy research institutions, jobs as congressional aides and researchers, and so on. If you are planning to go on to take an advanced degree in public policy, government administration, international affairs, or similar programs, an undergraduate major in philosophy will provide an excellent basis for further study in applied political fields. Among a field of graduate-program applicants who have usually majored in political science or economics, a philosophy major may stand out. Similarly, a philosophy minor may complement a major in political science, history, or languages as part of a solid portfolio for further work in politics.

Public Relations. The written and analytic skills which philosophical studies help to develop are essential tools for work in different kinds of public relations fields. If the student also has some experience with the media, and can develop a good ability to make oral presentations to groups of visitors, individual callers, donors, etc., then his or her philosophical training will enable them to convey complex ideas to the targeted audiences. An ability to help justify an institution's work, its future projects, and to develop consistent policies on controversial issues, can also be a vital asset for PR work with larger organizations.

Fundraising and Nonprofit Work. Students with degrees in philosophy are well prepared for any job in which difficult value-judgments and comparative analyses have to be made. This often suits them for work in college and university administrations, e.g., in admissions, or in major foundations, or other non-profit enterprises devoted to various social causes. In addition, fundraising for various non-profit interests often involves not only good written and spoken skills, but an ability to explain and justify why the organization's work is worthy of devotion, has long-term promise, or fulfills basic human needs. Many foundations and think-tanks also hire general researchers, who need the sorts of skills provided by prior training in philosophy.

Religion and Ministry. Students who go on for advanced degrees in theology or into seminaries to study for the ministry often start with an undergraduate degree in philosophy, which is often as good as a theology or religious studies major for these purposes. Especially if the student has theoretical interests, it is good to have some training in philosophy if planning to work in areas related to theology. Here is a case where a philosophy minor or an interdisciplinary major involving both philosophy, biblical languages, and religious studies, can be a powerful combination.

Business and Management. Many students with undergraduate majors or minors in philosophy go on to successful careers in business or management. Large firms often look for people who have a great all-round liberal arts education—which trains their mind for analysis—excellent communication skills, and an understanding of people. Of course any career in business or management will involve a lot of on-the-job training, and the student will have to learn particular knowledge not supplied by a philosophy degree or any other liberal arts major. But philosophy often provides a good basis on which to build. Students thinking of going on for MBA degrees need not major in business or economics alone; the best MBA schools like to admit students who have shown interests in other areas, such as history, languages, and philosophy, in addition to finance and management. Students with some background in philosophy are often better prepared for the kind of logical thinking required for more advanced administrative science and long-range planning.

Art and Architecture. Preparation for professional work in art and architecture often requires either advanced technical training or a graduate degree, but some background in philosophy is often very helpful for the student who wants to think theoretically about these creative endeavors. Both in aesthetics and in other areas, such as theories of meaning, culture, and society, philosophy has been a significant inspiration for innovation in art and architecture, and some training in philosophical disciplines provides a basis for a mature understanding of these disciplines, an understanding that extends beyond the technical competencies they also require.

Recent News about the Advantages of Philosophy

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — When a fellow student at Rutgers University urged Didi Onejeme to try Philosophy 101 two years ago, Ms. Onejeme, who was a pre-med sophomore, dismissed it as “frou-frou.”

“People sitting under trees and talking about stupid stuff — I mean, who cares?” Ms. Onejeme recalled thinking at the time.

But Ms. Onejeme, now a senior applying to law school, ended up changing her major to philosophy, which she thinks has armed her with the skills to be successful. “My mother was like, what are you going to do with that?” said Ms. Onejeme, 22. “She wanted me to be a pharmacy major, but I persuaded her with my argumentative skills.”

Once scoffed at as a luxury major, philosophy is being embraced at Rutgers and other universities by a new generation of college students who are drawing modern-day lessons from the age-old discipline as they try to make sense of their world, from the morality of the war in Iraq to the latest political scandal. The economic downturn has done little, if anything, to dampen this enthusiasm among students, who say that what they learn in class can translate into practical skills and careers. On many campuses, debate over modern issues like war and technology is emphasized over the study of classic ancient texts.

Rutgers, which has long had a top-ranked philosophy department, is one of a number of universities where the number of undergraduate philosophy majors is ballooning; there are 100 in this year’s graduating class, up from 50 in 2002, even as overall enrollment on the main campus has declined by 4 percent.

At the City University of New York, where enrollment is up 18 percent over the past six years, there are 322 philosophy majors, a 51 percent increase since 2002.

“If I were to start again as an undergraduate, I would major in philosophy,” said Matthew Goldstein, the CUNY chancellor, who majored in mathematics and statistics. “I think that subject is really at the core of just about everything we do. If you study humanities or political systems or sciences in general, philosophy is really the mother ship from which all of these disciplines grow.”

Nationwide, there are more colleges offering undergraduate philosophy programs today than a decade ago (817, up from 765), according to the College Board. Some schools with established programs like Texas A&M, Notre Dame, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, now have twice as many philosophy majors as they did in the 1990s.

David E. Schrader, executive director of the American Philosophical Association, a professional organization with 11,000 members, said that in an era in which people change careers frequently, philosophy makes sense. “It’s a major that helps them become quick learners and gives them strong skills in writing, analysis and critical thinking,” he said.

Mr. Schrader, an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware, said that the demand for philosophy courses had outpaced the resources at some colleges, where students are often turned away. Some are enrolling in online courses instead, he said, describing it as “really very strange.”

“The discipline as we see it from the time of Socrates starts with people face to face, putting their positions on the table,” he said.

The Rutgers philosophy department is relatively large, with 27 professors, 60 graduate students, and more than 30 undergraduate offerings each semester. For those who cannot get enough of their Descartes in class, there is the Wednesday night philosophy club, where, last week, 11 students debated the metaphysics behind the movie “The Matrix” for more than an hour.

An undergraduate philosophy journal started this semester has drawn 36 submissions — about half from Rutgers students — on musings like “Is the extinction of a species always a bad thing?”

Barry Loewer, the department chairman, said that Rutgers started building its philosophy program in the late 1980s, when the field was branching into new research areas like cognitive science and becoming more interdisciplinary. He said that many students have double-majored in philosophy and, say, psychology or economics, in recent years, and go on to become doctors, lawyers, writers, investment bankers and even commodities traders.

As the approach has changed, philosophy has attracted students with little interest in contemplating the classical texts, or what is known as armchair philosophy. Some, like Ms. Onejeme, the pre-med-student-turned-philosopher, who is double majoring in political science, see it as a pre-law track because it emphasizes the verbal and logic skills prized by law schools — something the Rutgers department encourages by pointing out that their majors score high on the LSAT.

Other students said that studying philosophy, with its emphasis on the big questions and alternative points of view, provided good training for looking at larger societal questions, like globalization and technology.

“All of these things make the world a smaller place and force us to look beyond the bubble we grow up in,” said Christine Bullman, 20, a junior, who said art majors and others routinely took philosophy classes. “I think philosophy is a good base to look at a lot of issues.”

Frances Egan, a Rutgers philosophy professor who advises undergraduates, said that as it has become harder for students to predict what specialties might be in demand in an uncertain economy, some may be more apt to choose their major based simply on what they find interesting. “Philosophy is a lot of fun,” said Professor Egan, who graduated with a philosophy degree in the tough economic times of the 1970s. “A lot of students are in it because they find it intellectually rewarding.”

Max Bialek, 22, was majoring in math until his senior year, when he discovered philosophy. He decided to stay an extra year to complete the major (his parents needed reassurance, he said, but were supportive.

“I thought: Why weren’t all my other classes like that one?” he said, explaining that philosophy had taught him a way of studying that could be applied to any subject and enriched his life in unexpected ways. “You can talk about almost anything as long as you do it well.”

Jenna Schaal-O’Connor, a 20-year-old sophomore who is majoring in cognitive science and linguistics, said philosophy had other perks. She said she found many male philosophy majors interesting and sensitive.

“That whole deep existential torment,” she said. “It’s good for getting girlfriends.”

Most people think of philosophers as university professors (and many are), but here are some famous philosophers who have excelled in other areas:

Studying

Philosophy

at

York College