I am wondering if you have very useful idea on this issue?

Question

I am in grea dilemma whether to choose Philosophy or Social service as I am going to enroll in univesity in January. I am willing to be a great field social worker, not job-oriented, and also my goal is to find out the meaning of life and expose to the world.So please I need your great useful advice. Thanks

Answer 1

Sounds like you want to do social studies, as philosophy tends to educate you on previous experiences. Social studies gives you an all round perspective on people, they way they behave and why, how you can help them and learn to help others. As your experience studying will be great, it will be whole lot better putting it into action, you are bound to learn more.

Answer 2

Go for social service. It's an honorable (if thankless) profession, and you'll probably have an easier time finding a job than you would with a degree in philosophy.

Also, this need not be an either-or choice. You can study philosophy in your spare time. Getting a degree in philosophy is neither a guarantee nor a prerequisite to "finding the meaning of life."

Besides which, I can tell you the meaning of life right now. The meaning of life is: Whatever the hell you want it to be! No, seriously. We are all sovereign individuals with free will, and as such, our destiny and life are ours to make and give meaning to as each individual one of us sees fit. Anything else is just one person telling another what their life means, essentially taking that choice away. So don't go out on some crusade to tell the rest of the world what their meaning of life is, however special you think YOUR discovered meaning of life is.

That said, by all means DO go out into the world and help make peoples' lives better through social services. The world will be better off for your efforts, and who knows...it may just be social services, not philosophy, that helps you in your quest for meaning.

Answer 3

You are the type of person who'd have that kind of dillema just by being confused whether what to choose? Well, if you're in financial crisis, you should take Social Service first. You'd soon understand what life is when you gain more experience in life. You take Philosophy after you finished Social Service. I guarantee you, you'd learn.
If you are not in financial crisis, still, I advice you to take Social Service first. You know, your confusion of taking Philosophy is just your great need of revealing to yourself what life really is. The definition of life from one person to the other differs. So, you have to make your own definition without the help of studying Philosophy. Mind you, if you finish Social Service, you'd forget about studying Philosophy, because probably by that time, you've already answered your biggest questions in life. It won't matter if it's true or not to everyone else, what's important is, it must come from your own understanding taken from your experienes in life.
In addition, I'd like to tell you, Philosophy is not your way to understanding what life really is. It all depends upon you and you alone. Philosophy just discusses on HOW you may be able to think much effectively, BUT it does not directly tell you what is life. Philosophy is the pre-assumption of something that is existing. And after philosophy is scientific process. Your need of understanding what life is, cannot overcome your passion of serving others. Please, tell me more about what and who you are and your comment about my advice... I am very willing to help. You can mail me at [e-mail] . Thanks anyways.

Answer 4

Do what you're most passionate about. See it from this way also:

Be in the social service career that you want so you can do great things and feel good about it at the end of everyday. In your progress and journey through your career you will be in a great spot to write theories on life from your experience with people and society. You could be a phenominal philosopher of the meaning of life because you work directly with people and their issues everyday of your life. Your interactions would be a big advantage in defining what life is all about. I really think you can meld these two things together and have a unique perspective that's of your own.

Answer 5

You will need to eat, right? You can always be a great field social worker and get paid for it, while finding out the meaning of life in your spare time. Doing it the other way around is a sure fire way to go hungry.
(If you're a trust-fund baby, do whatever you want though.)

Answer 6

Philosophy will expand your horizons much more. Social science is going to be more rigid.

Not that either is really going to help you find a job and make it. Not that I'm arguing your major choice, just questioning your grip on reality. If you recognize this, then more power to you and I'd recommend philosophy.

Answer 7

Philosophy, with a minor in Humanities ( for social service)

Answer 8

look in your heart... what do you really want in life? what matters most to you? how do you see yourself 10, 20 years from now?

you can help many people despite whatever field you are in. whether it be law, medicine, engineering, etc... the point is, what is your ambition in life? your aim? your goal?

attaining wisdom, learning life's meaning can be achieved by looking around. understand and comprehend the things around you. the why's, what's, how's who's, etc... can never have perfect answers but to have a glimpse of it, even for just a half-truth, is already a piece of wisdom. life has many meanings to many people. different views, opinions, principles. it's by analyzing the moment you are in, understanding it, experiencing it that you gain wisdom on what life really is.

Philosophy or Social Science? any course can do. but which do you think can contribute to your success in the pursuit of your goal? weigh the pros and cons, and ask yourself (thru your heart) what do i really want my life, my future generation, to be and how could it make me more a person?

Answer 9

You really need to choose a field of study that will benefit you after graduation! I guess what I am saying is.......major in something to support yourself, and minor in philosophy. Mommy and daddy will not support you for ever. You need to be able to take care of yourself. You have to eat while you search for the meaning of life.

Answer 10

Social Service leads to Philosophy. So go and serve your fellow man…observe all that you see…ponder the human experience…and then philosophize for everyone’s benefit. We await your wisdom.