Philosophy is one of the oldest fields of study in the world and one that many keep turning to. Why is philosophy important, and why is it relevant today?
What is philosophy?
Philosophy is the study of existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. In other words, it’s the academic exploration of life’s big questions. It’s a discipline that can be applied to any field or subject and helps develop critical thinking skills.
Philosophy is one of the oldest disciplines in the world, and its history can be traced back to ancient Greece. Plato and Aristotle’s works, some of the earliest philosophers, are still studied and read today.
Philosophy has had a significant impact on many areas of life and professions including the arts, science and politics.
1. Philosophy teaches valuable transferrable skills
Philosophy teaches critical thinking by encouraging students to question everything they are taught. Students are encouraged to develop their own beliefs and to think for themselves.
This is a valuable skill, particularly in a world where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to tell fact from fiction.
Philosophy also teaches students how to argue effectively. This is important, as it allows students to defend their beliefs against opposing arguments and helps them better understand other people’s views.
According to a 2022 report by Data USA, numerous skills make philosophy graduates stand out from their peers. Some of the highest-value skills grads take with them include, but are not limited to:
- Writing skills
- Reading comprehension
- Speaking
- Active learning
- Instruction
- Critical thinking
- Complex problem solving
- Social perceptiveness
2. Philosophy helps you understand yourself
One of the main benefits of studying philosophy is that it teaches us how to question our assumptions and beliefs.
Many take certain things for granted without questioning why we believe them. By exploring how thoughts and beliefs are formed and how this has evolved throughout history, we can begin to understand our frame of beliefs.
As Emil Magnusson of Stockholm University put it:
“As abstract as philosophy may sound it really is not. Philosophy will help you question, find answers to, and expand your idea of your world. States of the world that you (and almost everyone else) take for granted are not as obvious when you dive deeper into it. All in all, I think it helps you think outside of the box and not make you stuck in the same patterns as the rest.”
Philosophy can also provide a framework for making ethical decisions and for exploring important questions about life and death, meaning, and purpose. By studying philosophy, students can develop their reasoning and abstract thinking skills, which are essential for success in any field.
Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, a professor in Philosophy and the author of Plato at the Googleplex, points out in her interview with The Atlantic:
“It’s always a good thing to know, no matter what you go on to study—to be able to think critically. To challenge your own point of view. Also, you need to be a citizen in this world. You need to know your responsibilities. You’re going to have many moral choices every day of your life. And it enriches your inner life.”
3. Philosophy is important for business
Philosophy is a great way of looking at problems that could affect companies down the line, such as:
- Ethical issues like corporate citizenship or unfair labor practices
- Questions regarding technology, such as whether automation should be allowed since it can replace human workers so much more easily than before
As the growth in machine learning and AI continues, we’re seeing increasing concern about the role and ethics of technology usage—the core of philosophy’s teachings.
Therefore, fields like AI ethics and copyright law are expected to grow in the following decade.
What’s more, philosophy fits well even in traditional business. As Frankfurt School of Finance & Management professor of philosophy Christine Tiefensee explains:
“You will need to see quickly through complex issues, put together convincing arguments for or against given proposals, filter relevant from irrelevant information, check the consistency and soundness of policy papers, decide which problems are crucial and identify the issues that are still badly understood.
These skills of rigorous analysis, sound argument and critical examination are the bread-and-butter of philosophy: no subject trains our ability for consistent, systematic thought better than philosophy.”
Philosophy graduates take many transferrable skills with them, allowing them to work in various fields. The image below shows a breakdown of the most common jobs for philosophy graduates:
4. Science can’t answer all questions
Science is one of the most important components in our lives today. We rely heavily on it for both personal and professional reasons. However, science can’t tell us what makes something right or wrong. As Blogger David Calhoun puts it:
“At its core, philosophy is a striving towards figuring out what is true and worthwhile, and what it means to live a meaningful and worthwhile life. That’s something off-limits for science, because science can tell us how things are empirically, but it can’t prescribe how we should then live. […] In short: science helps us live longer, whereas philosophy helps us live better.”