What are my career choices as a philosophy major?

Question

What careers are available to a philosophy major? Whats the market value of one?

So far, my only plans is to get all my necessary degrees and move on to graduate school and have a career as a professor/researcher. I would like to know of more options so that I can fall back on if that doesn't work for me.

Answer 1

Grad school sounds great, especially if you have a keen mind for philosophy. You probably do if you're thinking of it. Other options I've considered in the past when in school studying P were law school, medical school, becoming a writer somehow (with a creative writing masters degree). If you've ever been personality type (Myers-Brigg) it is available in career centers in colleges Career development center for a fee of about $15. It should tell you the career options. Any direction helps when it comes to choosing a profession. I was typed good for those literary/analytical/creative subjects such as professor, lawyer, etc. There were others, but i wasn't interested.
If you ever decide to go to liberal arts studies in grad school better be prepared to bust your butt and become the very best in your community and publish and get your recognition by being very socially suave and competent with your knowledge. It is very competitive to get a position! I chose to not enter P or psych (my other). I chose not to for personal reasons, including my desire to choose a more practical profession that did not have issues with job availability.

You will be glad when you make the decision of your heart. But be prepared to work hard no matter what you choose. Good luck.

Answer 2

Great question - I had been struggling with that myself. I found a little inspiration in political philosophy, which you may be interested in and not even know it (upon the assumption that you are opinionated enough to question that which is usually not questioned, and are therefore opinionated about political affairs). I have heard that many businesses are now becoming interested in sociologists and philosophers for the well-being and harmony of their drones, helping them to become more productive by teaching "meaning" and that which is "really important". Philosophically-oriented persons always make the best leaders as they are logical and (usually) fair, so you may want to seek out such a position after graduate school, or even just become an advisor to the one that needs to make the decision, if you are as indecisive as I am. There are even philosophy applications in economics, specifically to foresee events that regular statistics may look over but humanist philosophy may embrace in the current form. However, to get into many of these areas, I think it's by a stroke of chance that the opportunity reveals itself without much effort, otherwise you will probably spend some time looking around for that sign. I'm only 18 and am terrified of college myself because I really don't know what will/should come after, especially as my wishes really don't correspond to what will be offered to me based on my interests (meaning I would like lots of money to be secure in family, being able to enrich my children's lives through foreign excursions, etc. - but this is not really possible as all my interests reflect a lifestyle that is more low-key and in the field of intellect that has no real place in our current society, and these positions aren't competitive and therefore not very high in salary). To this, I wish us both luck!

Answer 3

You could be an author, or a religious minister or clergyman of some type. Someone has to edit philosophy books. You could design products to be used in teaching the basics of the subject to children. You could give commercial lectures and seminars.

Answer 4

Wolfram Research actually hires philosophers (in addition to software engineers, scientists, engineers, and mathematicians). Send them your resume, even if they do not have "philosopher" in their job listings. See http://www.wolfram.com/company/opportunities/

If you like logic, definitely check out software engineering--you'd probably love programming.

If you like ethics, check out paralegal work. Might have enough of "right and wrong" to be interesting to you.

Finally, why not try starting an on line or print magazine? Usually philosophers have a lot to talk about....

Answer 5

Societal gadfly, bohemian in French cafe, beggar.

Sorry, couldn't resist. I was a philosophy minor. Besides teaching, I don't know if there are any specialty areas for philosophy people. Just having a degree and demonstrating the ability to think could help you convince people in a variety of businesses that you would be an asset - provided you can sell yourself. Good luck.

(Yes, 1000 points!)

Answer 6

mcdonalds