Secondly, why do you continue to study it?
Hi Arjun! Thanks for the (very interesting) question.
There are several reasons why I study philosophy and why I will continue to study it in the future. Let me get straight into the most relevant ones.
First of all, part of philosophy is to ask (and try to answer) the most fundamental questions concerning humanity. What should we do? What is it that holds the world together at its core? What is the meaning of life? It is these questions that most interest me. And I am not only interested in answering them; I am also interested in getting clear on what possible answers are out there. Without thinking about these questions, I feel like something would be missing. For example, I would not be satisfied with simply acting on my moral intuitions without having a moral theory to refer to. That’s the first reason.
Secondly, as a moral philosopher, I engage in judgments about how we should act. Contrast this with psychology, for example, which is interested in questions about how we do act. I think it simply depends on which questions you find more interesting. I am personally more interested in thinking about how we should act. (I should note here that for answering this question, input from psychology is often relevant; so do not think that I completely disregard psychology.) So, that is another reason why I chose philosophy.
And why do I continue to study it? Well, philosophy is no easy discipline. There is a lot to learn. I am only familiar with parts of Western philosophy, but I know very little about other philosophical traditions, such as Confucianism or Buddhist philosophy. However, to answer the most fundamental questions, I feel that input from very many traditions can be helpful, and that one should at least be familiar with the basic arguments these other traditions have to offer.
One final thought. The reasons why one studies a certain subject are probably quite complex. They include cultural influences, influence from parents, and influence from one’s peers. And many of these influences are quite contingent, which means they could have very easily turned out differently. So, it would be a mistake to take my decision to study philosophy as a fully rational decision made by an autonomous agent. I hope some of my reasons are rational, but I just want to make the point that not all of them are.
I hope that helps! 😊
Do you think philosophy is worth studying? Why? Let us know in the comments.
If you have a question for the Armchair Philosophers, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can find us on Twitter (@armchair_o) or fill in this form.
Be sure to check out our podcast!
If you like what we do, you can support us by buying us a coffee!
Image: Aristotle tutoring the future conqueror Alexander. Illustration by Charles Laplante, 1866
I am a masters student in philosophy (and in psychology) at the University of Graz, and a research assistant at the section of practical philosophy. I am mostly interested in ethics in the broadest sense (metaethics, normative ethics, applied ethics, especially climate ethics and animal ethics), but I am also a fan of breaking the boundaries between practical and theoretical philosophy and of empirical approaches to philosophical questions. My favourite philosophers are Shelly Kagan and Alastair Norcross because I like act-utilitarianism and people who write in a clear and concise (and entertaining) manner. I am also into politics, literature, and sports (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu).