We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Earning a living from philosophy means using your knowledge and (hopefully) wisdom to produce original works of philosophical thought and, usually, to teach others about the field. While you may be able to find work as a philosopher with just a master's degree, your chances will be much greater if you get a doctorate. In How to Be a Stoic, philosopher Massimo Pigliucci offers Stoicism, the ancient philosophy that inspired the great emperor Marcus Aurelius, as the best way to attain it. Consider the source. Ask intelligent questions. If you can, it's great to be the source of your own investigation. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Not exactly! This article received 20 testimonials and 87% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. At the same time, if you start reading something by one of these thinkers and it isn't stimulating to you, don't be afraid to set it aside and pick up something else that you find more compelling. Don't hesitate to argue positions that are the opposite of what you believe. Whenever you encounter something that your intuition tells you doesn't make sense or seems "fishy," look into why. Thank you! But arguments in another sense – vigorous interchanges of ideas, either verbally or in writing – are also very common in philosophy. This is the first I am exploring my interest in, "Very helpful. Definitely not! Last Updated: May 14, 2020 If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. moments. These cases aside, if you find yourself tempted to don a uniform, or worse, impose one on others, you might like to reconsider your philosophical credentials. More "practical" topics, like those derived from the social sciences (e.g. It’s hard work finding a good argument. That is just some basic logic, but it is at the core ( or at least should be) of all regular and philosophical thought. Singer has convinced many philosophers that consuming meat is morally wrong, by and large. Logic is the tool that you use to create ideas. Research source A teaching philosophy isn’t a laundry list of what you’ve done, says Mr. Green. I'm an art student right now because I thought that was my passion, but lately I have an interest in philosophy. Epicureanism. Being able to see as many sides of an issue as possible is an excellent way to hone your own arguments and thinking. Not quite! Choose a … Guess again! Political arrangements? Certainly, I find that good coffee gets my cognitive juices flowing. By using our site, you agree to our. Stoicism is a pragmatic philosophy that focuses our attention on what is possible and gives us perspective on what is unimportant. For example, some philosophers only trust their minds and logic, and not the senses, which may at times deceive us. One way it does this is by example. You will need to attend graduate school to further your philosophical thinking. We study ethics in order to improve our lives, and therefore its principal concern is the nature of human well-being. But philosophy is unusual in its explicit focus on the structure of arguments across a broad range of topics, from the meaning of words to the nature of … political science or sociology), the arts, and even the physical sciences (e.g. There is no single, superior method of investigation, so you will need to develop an approach that is both intellectually rigorous and compelling to you. Philosophers develop arguments to be challenged by other philosophers. It’s intriguing how often Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins and other advocates of the New Atheism are accused of being aggressive. It's also a good idea to present your work at academic conferences. While philosophers debate, the goal is not to win. Therefore, only we can determine a philosophy to live by. What Is the Main Point? We can employ deductive reasoning (e.g. Wondering is philosophy, philosophy is wondering. Never stop asking "why?". Not necessarily! The central task that underlies the effort of the philosopher is that of model development. Keep an open mind. No belief or source of ideas is immune, regardless of its origin, authority, or emotional power. Many of the greatest philosophers have developed such frameworks. Ask more questions. Yes because you will take your time and read texts slowly. "Questioning everything around you, even the basic beliefs or ideas of your society. Never stop asking why, even when you are given an answer. For example, wearing a t-shirt announcing 'I am a philosopher’ will be met with derision, if not outright ass-kicking. You are a philosopher when you can find a place to any fact, in heaven or earth. Be logical and consistent. Epicurus of Samos is an ancient Greek philosopher who lived from 341-270 BCE. ", "I got inspired after reading this article.". You’ve read one of your four complimentary articles for this month. You’ll need to accept that while you have investigated concerns that most people respond to with ‘I dunno’, people jealously defend their dignity, even if they subscribe to a list of hogwash and pseudo-science. Learn the top 5 signs someone is lying to you. Great art is often deeply philosophical, and great philosophy deeply artistic. Descartes, one of the most respected philosophers in history, was one who took this approach. I have little to no money for college. And the best way to do that – for many philosophers the only way – is by reading their books. that your premise was understood, or even read). He was a sage who established Epicureanism, a school of philosophy known in Athens known as “the Garden.” Click on another answer to find the right one... {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Become-a-Philosopher-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Become-a-Philosopher-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid20079-v4-728px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. That was an example of deductive reasoning, where 1 and 2 are premises that lead to a conclusion. Yes! There are also philosophers so overwhelmed by the power of science that they deride their own discipline. In order to minimize the contentions of people who feel they are smart, but resent your efforts to be smarter through philosophical investigation, a degree of modesty will need to be accepted by you. His publications include Recreative Minds (OUP, 2002) with Gregory Currie, and Philosophy of Mind: A Beginner’s Guide (OUP, 2005). Relationships between concepts, or between words and concepts? In today's environment, with ready access to enormous amounts of information, some of it specious, or worse. Usually colleges only have 'pre-law' available, and you could double-major in that and philosophy (or even just do philosophy, because you do not need to major in anything specific to apply to law school). Don't be afraid to voice a radical opinion, but do not allow its novelty and originality prevent you from seeing the validity of more conservative ideas. However, there are clothing choices which are at odds with the philosophical spirit. There are very few intellectual endeavours into which the philosopher cannot productively stick her nose. Like Plato, he regards the ethical virtues (justice, courage, tempe… The Australian philosopher John Bigelow once quipped ‘in caffeina veritas’ – in caffeine is truth. To do this, we must examine and consider several things about our lives and mould a mindset to our findings. Not necessarily! However, it's possible you could find some sort of 'philosophy of law' graduate program that would combine the two. But there is a strong tendency towards vegetarianism, at least in contemporary English-speaking philosophy. This is largely through the influence of Peter Singer. Can I get a nice job if I became a philosopher? The entirety of Philosophy is like one continuous story. The goal here is not to win a contest, but to learn and develop your thinking skills. These can be both incredibly useful and very entertaining. Steps 1. One can choose to be philosophical. [1] Spend some time exploring the philosophy programs offered by a variety of different universities. Read the classics. Few tasks are more important to the philosopher than reading. If you are a philosopher, you may have a business advantage over some because philosophy can give you a more positive and contemplative outlook on life, which will allow you to work well with difficult bosses, coworkers or clients. I am 18 and I have heard all throughout my life that philosophy is for me. If a philosophy book turns out to be dull or irrelevant, or just not very good, put it down and find something better to read. That's how most people get started. Are there any free classes or lectures on philosophy? A victory that comes … looking forward to be a great philosopher should put more concentration on, as it almost touches every corner of life and who you are. To have complete access to the thousands of philosophy articles on this site, please. But there is a strong … Philosophy is generally taken to be the study of the fundamental nature of the world (metaphysics), knowledge (epistemology), and action (ethics). Socrates, for example, had a keen nose for bullshit, and little patience with bullshitters: that is to say, he relentlessly exposed fools who presented themselves as knowledgeable authorities (that word again). Pursuing a bachelor's degree in philosophy is a good way to structure these studies, but many great philosophers were also self-taught. But that’s not the w… Nonetheless, the skills you'll learn in your graduate studies will be helpful in many fields of employment, and you can always keep working on philosophy in your free time. Wherever you decide to focus your inquiry, try to be systematic in your thinking. I have found my calling. Standards of beauty are different in different eras, and in Socratess time beauty could easily be measured by the standard of the gods, stately, proportionate sculptures of whom had been adorning the Athenian acropolis since about the time Socrates reached the age of thirty. Do no harm. Examples of beginning topics include the existence of God and whether humans are powered by free will or fate. In college, you can. Good looks and proper bearing were important to a mans political prospects, for beauty and goodness were linked in the popular imagination. Vigorous exchange is central to gaining the truth; and those who are shy of the truth tend to shy away from argument. Alexander the Great, drunkard, murderer and warmonger, is said to have asked Diogenes the Cynic if there was any favour he could do him. The great American philosopher Jerry Fodor [see reviews], who likes to joke around in print, was once accused of not taking philosophy seriously. Sometimes what you need to know is buried in an especially dull book, in which case you just have to grit your teeth and plough through. (I have yet to face death in any serious way.) wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This is one thing anyone, "It helped me feel confident and blazed the way for me on how to be a great philosopher that I vied for many years, "Wow! Clothes can be a source of aesthetic pleasure, and few philosophers are adamantly opposed to pleasure. By continuing to browse the site with cookies enabled in your browser, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy. The philosopher's life is not an easy one, but if you delight in exploring complex relationships and thinking deeply about important, but often vexing, topics, the study of philosophy might be your destiny, if there is any such thing. A two-year degree is not sufficient to become a philosopher. A philosopher does not chat idly. Philosophy is more than reading philosophical works. It also tries to understand how things should be. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. This article has been viewed 611,448 times. In philosophy you can hold any position you like – so long as you can back it up with a good argument. Certainly. Commit to being open-minded and flexible. Ian Ravenscroft is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Flinders University, South Australia. A philosopher is someone who practices philosophy. Such critics have assumed that they are thinkers without actually accepting the philosophical discipline presented here, but still feel they are entitled to philosophical consideration. There’s a better option out there! Indulge yourself. Marcus Aurelius writing philosophical advice to his son. There’s a better option out there! Remember that philosophy programs are highly competitive, so you may not be accepted right away. You can read four articles free per month. Are you interested in the human condition? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Become-a-Philosopher-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Become-a-Philosopher-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid20079-v4-728px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"