Swaminathan Nagarajan: No takers for philosophy?

Have you ever wondered when dictators arise, the first thing they tend to do is to silence the “Philosophers”! Why? For it is they who seem to bubble with ideas and ensure the thirst for continuous inquiry continues. Yes, the dictators and autocrats fear the philosophers and their influence on the thinking of common men and women.

What do you think studying philosophy means? This is one area where there is no set of defined answers to issues. The act of thinking deeply and critically, inquiring constantly and arriving at one’s ideas i.e. the sheer journey itself is so special. This is one subject you can be sure that those who take it up are at least interested in that subject with no other expectations.

LSE (London School of Economics) has a department – “Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method”. According to LSE, “Studying philosophy is an excellent opportunity to think deeply whilst developing important transferable skills. Choosing Philosophy as your subject will prepare you for the kind of careful thinking, critical analysis and persuasive writing that is critical in many different areas of work.”

Philosophy has multiple dimensions and aspects of inquiry. It covers ethics, politics, economics, law, metaphysics etc. Challenging questions are constantly debated and explored in philosophic inquiries.

A few examples are:

What is good?
Is it ok to sacrifice a few for the greater good of the society?
Is there something called “Free will”?
Does God exist?
What is an opinion, a belief? What are the types of knowledge?
How should the society be grouped?
What can we know?
Why should we obey the law?
Can we every state anything with absolute certainty?

If you are curious and has an open mind, philosophy is the subject to turn into.

Let’s go to the next topic. What can I do with a philosophy undergraduate degree? In other words, “Does it really pay?”. Very pertinent question that cannot be ignored in today’s world of survival.

Many studies have pointed to the fact that the philosophy graduates work in various departments starting from finance, science, NGOs, Government, Law and business and consistently earn well above the median average.

The students tend to do well in tests that require thinking, writing and critical judgement. Take the GRE or GMAT exam. Philosophy majors seem to get to the essence and ace the exams as entry to graduate studies.

One of the most sought-after skills in the 21^st century is critical thinking, working in a team and analytical/logical bent of mind. Studying philosophy prepares one for such a rigour and it can play a role in the general life too.

For this, it would be better to see what can one be able to do after studying philosophy major:

To understand and articulate issues – public or otherwise clearly drawing upon philosophical learning
To develop an inquiring and investigative mindset
To attain research skills, approach any issue logically and reason it out
To recognize fundamental questions on life, knowledge, rights, living, society etc.
To hone skills in analysis, interpretation and proof
To apply formal techniques of logic
To identify central issues/messages/concerns and get to the core of the debate/text

John Campbell, a renowned philosopher, says “Philosophy is thinking in slow motion. It breaks down, describes, and assesses moves we ordinarily make at great speed.... It then becomes evident that alternatives are possible.

Starting from Socrates, Plato, Aristotle to early modern and latest era of Machiavelli, Sir Thomas More, John Calvin, Michael de Montaigne, Francis Bacon, Descartes, Boyle, Spinoza, Locke, Voltaire, Hume, Kant, Bertrand Russell, Gödel and Camus have contributed to a better understanding of the fundamental questions, thought process and knowledge.

India has its own philosophers who have written treatises on metaphysics, materialism, justice, law, soul and body etc. Yajnavalkya was one of the earliest in the Vedic age. Many others followed including Kapila, Gautama Buddha, Mahavira, Chanakya, Patanjali, Bodhi dharma, Adi Shankara, Ramanuja, Basaveshwara, Madhvacharya, Vallabhacharya. In the modern times, Rabindranath Tagore, Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Jiddu Kirshnamurti are notable ones propounding and exploring in various aspects of the discipline. In addition, the Upanishads and other treatises serve as philosophical and scientific inquiries.

If you are keen to enjoy such a rigorous subject, go out, fall in love and find joy in the learning process itself.

Bertrand Russell said “"Philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but rather for the sake of the questions themselves; because these questions enlarge our conception of what is possible, enrich our intellectual imagination and diminish the dogmatic assurance which closes the mind against speculation; but above all because, through the greatness of the universe which philosophy contemplates, the mind also is rendered great, and becomes capable of that union with the universe which constitutes its highest good."

15^th November is celebrated as “World Philosophy Day” all over the world. UNESCO introduced it in 2002 with the following objectives:

to renew the national, sub regional, regional and international commitment to philosophy;
to foster philosophical analysis, research and studies on major contemporary issues, so as to respond more effectively to the challenges that are confronting humanity today;
to raise public awareness of the importance of philosophy and its critical use in the choices arising for many societies from the effects of globalization or entry into modernity;
to appraise the state of philosophy teaching throughout the world, with special emphasis on unequal access;
to underline the importance of the universalization of philosophy teaching for future generations. In establishing World Philosophy Day UNESCO strives to promote an international culture of philosophical debate that respects human dignity and diversity. The Day encourages academic exchange and highlights the contribution of philosophical knowledge in addressing global issues.