As a recent philosophy major convert, I’ve been surprised by how much I have enjoyed studying philosophy and the impact it has had on my life. Not only do I find the content itself very interesting, but I also find the structure of the classes themselves to be very engaging. In fact, many times, I would find myself looking at myself and the world in a different way than I had before entering the class that day. Unfortunately, I think philosophy classes can be easily overlooked by many students, and I want to share the distinct features of philosophy classes here at A&M that appealed to me personally, in hopes of encouraging others to try out these classes.
The discussion-based structure of philosophy classes is one of the main things that drew me to philosophy, especially when compared to some of my other classes that were mostly memorization-based and focused on reading content off slides. Many of the classes that I have taken put an emphasis on actively engaging with the content, interacting with different perspectives, and connecting philosophical ideas to personal experiences. Philosophy classes focus on not just learning content, but also developing the skills to think more critically, question familiar ideas, and challenge the way you view the world. You learn more about the world around you, but also more about yourself.
Philosophy also has a way of making you look at familiar concepts from an entirely different perspective. Things that we often take for granted suddenly become much more interesting when you begin to question how we came to understand them in the first place. As a simple example, when we think of music and math, people might think of them as two completely separate subjects, one being more creative and the other more technical. However, they are much more interconnected than you might initially think. What creates harmony in music, for instance, can be understood through mathematical ratios. In this way, philosophy encourages you to look beyond what you have traditionally been taught in school and recognize connections between seemingly unrelated and separate subjects. Instead of simply memorizing equations and plugging in numbers, you begin to understand the ideas and relationships between these concepts. This has had the effect of not only reshaping how I view these subjects, but also making me more aware of how my own worldviews have been shaped throughout my life.
Even something like mathematics, which many people might consider “uninteresting,” can suddenly pique your interest when reading something like Euclid’s Elements. Especially for STEM majors who may not have much exposure to philosophy or argumentative skills, these classes can work to provide the framework for critical thinking and holistic understanding that complement your knowledge of certain mathematical or scientific topics.Â
Whether it’s metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, or political philosophy, these areas of study have implications that extend far beyond philosophy itself. They can influence how we approach different subjects, majors, and careers. In fact, fields such as physics and biology have roots in natural philosophy, eventually developing into distinct scientific disciplines as methods of observation and experimentation evolved. Philosophy’s ability to play a role in almost any field makes it valuable to everyone across all majors and disciplines.
This link takes you to a list of philosophy courses offered here at A&M.
Remember, philosophy offers something for everyone, and A&M has a wide range of courses that allow you to explore these different areas of thought. Some of these higher-level classes may seem intimidating at first, especially when looking at some of the philosophical texts assigned. However, the emphasis on open discussion in philosophy classes encourages you to work through ideas together with others rather than simply being expected to understand difficult readings on your own. Even when the material is challenging, discussions make these concepts more digestible and allow you to develop your own understanding of them.