HELP! What kind of job can i get w/ philosopphy?

[WITHTEETH]

Im into Philosophy, religion, and politics, where can that get me? Im trying to find a major, if i get one in any of these fields what kind of job can i get? the only thing i can think of is being a teacher or writing books. please give ne more suggestions, it would be GREATLY appreciated it! :)

[Bighead]

You could be a government ethics teacher in a catholic school. :D

[MrsMoe]

I know a guy back home with a BA and a major in philisophy. He is a now security guard... no, I'm not joking. He deeply regretted the degree. Unless you plan on going further in your schooling (past a Bachelors) and going on to get your Masters plus in another area or going to Law School to be a lawyer, I would advise a more practical degree.

A philosophy degree is not designed to prepare you for a specific career field, but can be an interesting prep-degree to lay a foundation for a future education.

[alaspooryorick]

You might consider a minor if it's just a side interest and you're not planning on devoting your entire life to it. Although, if you were planning on furthering your education past the undergrad level, philosophy could get you into law school/one of those other practical careers.

If you really love it though, there's nothing wrong with teaching it/writing on it. Believe me, I have a traditionally "worthless" major (English), and if you love it enough to dedicate your life to it, then considering graduate school and a career in teaching is a good idea.

But hey, I'm assuming you're still in high school? Plenty of people change their majors countless times...you may find something else you really enjoy.

EDIT: Oh, and about the Catholic school? You'd probably have to go through an extensive background check to teach. Although, it is awfully fun to mess with people there...oh ethics, I can hardly wait to take it. ;)

[Evil_Mage_Ra]

Im into Philosophy, religion, and politics, where can that get me? Im trying to find a major, if i get one in any of these fields what kind of job can i get? the only thing i can think of is being a teacher or writing books. please give ne more suggestions, it would be GREATLY appreciated it! :)
I was in a similar boat when I was an undergrad. I wanted to major in religion because I thought it was interesting (even though I had lost my religion at that time). Unfortunately, the only jobs available for religion majors are teacher or minister, and while I like teaching, ministering wasn't for me. I ended up majoring in chemistry and later went on to grad school.

During the first year of grad school we had to do semester-long rotations in different lab groups. The first group I joined, one of the post-docs was actually a philosophy major in college. However, I think his case is atypical.

What I would suggest (if you can manage it) is to double-major in something you really like (like philosophy, religion, or politics) and in something more career-oriented (like engineering, business, law, etc.). Why not get the best of both worlds?

[ghoulslime]

Dude, the only thing a degree in philosophy will get you is the ability to understand better than other people why you don’t have a job. Liberal Arts majors build great minds but they are not marketable. You can teach – THAT’S IT!

Please take it from someone who has gone down that road – B.A. ENGLISH, M.A. ENGLISH, and PHD ENGLISH. DON”T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had to go back to school and get a Masters in Information Technology so that I could get a decent job in the USA.

Major in something marketable for Christ’s sake. Philosophy is a great hobby! You can read it and think it and discuss it the rest of your life. I still enjoy reading philosophy. It is a wonderful exercise for the brain. But for your future job possibilities, you might as well major in weaving Navaho blankets from the hair on cat’s asses.

I don’t mean to sound mean, but I don’t want to see another poor soul doomed to looking for jobs with a BA in Bullshit – like me when I was younger.

Please consult the Occupational Outlook Handbook located here:

http://www.bls.gov/home.htm

This will give you a very accurate projection of all the job areas in the future.

[solidsquid]

My field looks fairly promising as far as salaries go. However, it varies upon what type of institution I am employeed at.

A degree in philosophy? Well, you can maybe go for teaching or writing.

[thomas]

Im into Philosophy, religion, and politics, where can that get me? Im trying to find a major, if i get one in any of these fields what kind of job can i get? the only thing i can think of is being a teacher or writing books. please give ne more suggestions, it would be GREATLY appreciated it! :)
Can you remember key phrases like "would you like fries with that" ?

[MrsMoe]

Dude, the only thing a degree in philosophy will get you is the ability to understand better than other people why you don’t have a job. Liberal Arts majors build great minds but they are not marketable. You can teach – THAT’S IT!

Please take it from someone who has gone down that road – B.A. ENGLISH, M.A. ENGLISH, and PHD ENGLISH. DON”T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had to go back to school and get a Masters in Information Technology so that I could get a decent job in the USA.

Major in something marketable for Christ’s sake. Philosophy is a great hobby! You can read it and think it and discuss it the rest of your life. I still enjoy reading philosophy. It is a wonderful exercise for the brain. But for your future job possibilities, you might as well major in weaving Navaho blankets from the hair on cat’s asses.

I don’t mean to sound mean, but I don’t want to see another poor soul doomed to looking for jobs with a BA in Bullshit – like me when I was younger.

Please consult the Occupational Outlook Handbook located here:

http://www.bls.gov/home.htm

This will give you a very accurate projection of all the job areas in the future.
You are so right. I know people with degrees in "English" that have crap jobs. One of them works in a grocery store. :P

Getting a teaching job isn't that easy either, there are lots of people with crap degrees applying for teaching positions because it's all they can get and the job market for teaching Philopshy isn't exactally broad. I have come to know of a few broke unemployed writers, too. Please don't be hurt by the advice here, it's good advice, everyone is looking out for you.

[Evil_Mage_Ra]

Please don't be hurt by the advice here, it's good advice, everyone is looking out for you.
Yeah. You're actually pretty lucky to be hearing this now than finding it out for yourself four years or so down the line.

[Rhinoqulous]

Im into Philosophy, religion, and politics, where can that get me? Im trying to find a major, if i get one in any of these fields what kind of job can i get? the only thing i can think of is being a teacher or writing books. please give ne more suggestions, it would be GREATLY appreciated it! :)
Find a job in philosophy? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. (wipes tears from eyes). I have a BA + some Masters work in philosophy, and I work at a film distribution company. Odds of finding a job doing philosophy with a BA: 0%. Masters: 10% (maybe a community college). PhD: ~20%, if in epistemology or phil of religion, ~30%. That's for the US. I'm looking into possibly getting a job teaching philosophy at a private school in S. Korea right now, but the chances are slim. Probably just find a new school and go back at it full time in a year or so.

I'll tell you right now, if you're into philosophy, you're going to hate poli sci. Politicians are the opposite of philosophers; they've abandoned all hope for the truth and instead have embraced the art of talking much without saying anything (rhetoric). Trust the Rhinoq, he started out as a dual Poli Sci/Philosophy major, and switched to philosophy (and film).

Do I regret getting a degree that is basically worthless in finding a job? Hell no. I love philosophy, and I plan on continuing reading and writing in philosophy for the rest of my life, even if I don't end up going on and finishing my PhD. So, if you like thinking about really odd things, and getting into arguments that no one other than another philosopher would even care about, join us in the unemployment line. We have some great conversations while we wait for our food stamps. :P

Rhinoq

[alaspooryorick]

You are so right. I know people with degrees in "English" that have crap jobs. One of them works in a grocery store. :P
Crap, that's me. At least I don't have a degree yet though...I'd probably end my life pretty quickly if I had to stock bananas for the rest of my life. Trust me, you don't want that job.

However, even though the odds aren't....spectacular, I'd rather take my chances to get a career in teaching literature, which is something I actually love, rather than doing something I tolerate for security.

[WITHTEETH]

Thanks for the support assholes. I think im going to make navaho blankets out of hair from cats assholes. You guys are as cool as aids. just kidding :), thanks for putting it so well. I do love philosophy, history and religion. I'm going to meditate on it longer.

Theres always the porn industry, Heyyyooo!

[Tenspace]

Thanks for the support assholes. I think im going to make navaho blankets out of hair from cats assholes. You guys are as cool as aids. just kidding :), thanks for putting it so well. I do love philosophy, history and religion. I'm going to meditate on it longer.

Theres always the porn industry, Heyyyooo!
Need a cat? She sheds alot, should be good for the blanket business. Oh, and she's a calico, so not only do you get multicolored blankets, but it'll scare the hell out of the Pentecostals. :D

Ten

[Rhinoqulous]

This thread got me thinking about all the blokes I hung with in my old philosophy department. Not many are doing philosophy anymore.

2 are in law school

1 is in grad school for poetry

1 is in grad school for cognitive psychology

1 is in grad school for philosophy (specializing in Nietzsche)

1 dropped out of school and plays bass

1 is associate producer on Pimp My Ride

1 works at a warehouse

1 works at a head shop

1 works at a film distributor (thaza me!)

Sooooo, if you do decide to go into philosophy, you better have some skill that will pay your rent.

[Evil_Mage_Ra]

This thread got me thinking about all the blokes I hung with in my old philosophy department. Not many are doing philosophy anymore.

2 are in law school

1 is in grad school for poetry

1 is in grad school for cognitive psychology

1 is in grad school for philosophy (specializing in Nietzsche)

1 dropped out of school and plays bass

1 is associate producer on Pimp My Ride

1 works at a warehouse

1 works at a head shop

1 works at a film distributor (thaza me!)

Sooooo, if you do decide to go into philosophy, you better have some skill that will pay your rent.
Wow, you know a guy who works on Pimp My Ride?

[Sir Sin-O-Lot]

1. Become a professor of philosophy
2. Become a carpenter
3. Go back to college and take a course that is more useful
4. Become a writer
5. See above
6. Become a starving artist
7. Become gay and oppressed. Once you have been both, see # 4.
8. Work at McDonalds
9. Become a political whore

[ghoulslime]

Thanks for the support assholes. I think im going to make navaho blankets out of hair from cats assholes. You guys are as cool as aids. just kidding :), thanks for putting it so well. I do love philosophy, history and religion. I'm going to meditate on it longer.

Theres always the porn industry, Heyyyooo!
Need a cat? She sheds alot, should be good for the blanket business. Oh, and she's a calico, so not only do you get multicolored blankets, but it'll scare the hell out of the Pentecostals. :D

Ten
You can have the hair off of my asshole too if it will help. You can just say it is cat ass-hole hair. :D

[ghoulslime]

This thread got me thinking about all the blokes I hung with in my old philosophy department. Not many are doing philosophy anymore.

2 are in law school

1 is in grad school for poetry

1 is in grad school for cognitive psychology

1 is in grad school for philosophy (specializing in Nietzsche)

1 dropped out of school and plays bass

1 is associate producer on Pimp My Ride

1 works at a warehouse

1 works at a head shop

1 works at a film distributor (thaza me!)

Sooooo, if you do decide to go into philosophy, you better have some skill that will pay your rent.
Wow, you know a guy who works on Pimp My Ride?
And a head shop too? Does he give good head?

[Rhinoqulous]

The best in town. Wait, what?

[Sir Sin-O-Lot]

The best in town. Wait, what?
How revealing.

[Rhinoqulous]

Hey, I do work in the entertainment industry. We're all just pimps and whores.

Rhinoq