Why Study Philosophy?

We have discussed this previously – see HERE and HERE to look at what we came up with – but I wanted to raise it with a new ‘batch’ of students – our current first year cohort.

I have pasted below the initial questions I have asked the RPE187 class – and await the answers with interest. [Other readers of the blog are welcome to join in!]
Cheers,
dave

So: why study philosophy

1 – Pragmatic:

What skills can you take from the subject? What else (if anything) will it make you good at?

2 – Social / Political:

Does a philosophical education make you a more aware citizen – who makes better choices?

Are you more moral as a result of the study of ethics?

Is a society with more philosophers in it, more or less likely to be:

• Fairer?
• Smooth functioning?
• Well organised?
• Argumentative and disputatious?

3 – Personal

Has your study so far impacted upon you as a person?

Is this a subject which changes people – unlike, perhaps, some other subjects (can you think of an example of a subject which doesn’t change people?)?

If it does bring about personal change – what is the nature of this change?

Other: Are there other reasons?