Why do I have to get PhD in philosophy?? it's no fun guys I'm serious :0?

Question

So I dreamed of becoming a scientists. My target area was ecology. I was talked into taking a post-graduate course in social philosophy and was promised it would combine well with ecological issues... NOTHING OF THE KIND. Only the damn blah-blah business I despise philosophers for. Yeah, now I HATE philosophy. The professors won't let me say a word about my real studies, they wanr their f*****g classics. And the defence is hopefully this spring. I'm so disappointed and tired.
Was it worth all the efforts, all the time wasted on re-doing the dissertation over and over again? Now I keep all my friends from becoming a PhD, I tell them it's all bull***t. At least in philosophy. Shall I quit before it's too late? I don't want to become one of those cabinet rats doing nothing but compilation. I miss marine research, labs and boat trips... Shall I f*** it all and start all over again with - say - biology?
No MD's sorry. I've had enough.

Thanks a lot to all of you for your answers, even angry ones.
Zen and Art of the Motorcycle Maintenance seems to be fun, though I've just started reading. being somewhere on a lost highway mounting a bike would be perfect now ( I don't own any bike but...)))
well, the department I applied for was called "Ecology and Environmental Management". Only after the papers were signed and money paid I learned it would be philosophy! The inner sense told me I should have run away as soon as possible. But they were good friends of my family, they said I would do as much of ecology as needed etc etc. Then I learned people were not writing there dissertations there, all was written by professors and paid for and I wanted to do everything myself. I left this weird institution (very respectable but no names...) but they won't let me defend anywhere else. Such a thriller, guys... Come on now, say philosophers won't harm a fly, hehe...

Answer 1

i have a PHD....(post hole digger) knowledge means nothing if u dont use it... unless u want some thing to hang on wall...if i could start over...i would have quit school sooner than what i did... id be a millionair sooner

Answer 2

Hey Nick,

With a PhD in Philosophy there are many career options for you. But, there ought to be nearly as many with a Masters, which you must have. Philosphers loose track of reality, and that is what "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" is about. Philosophy for the sake of Philosophy will drive you insane. The main character in the book mentioned recovers from a mental breakdown, and applies his philosophy to Motorcycle Maintenance, a real analogy. This leads to a breakthrough in his understanding and mastry.

If you are writing your dissertation now, you are close to the PhD. So, you have to decide is it that you hate Philosophy, or that you hate the applications you are being forced into. Perhaps there is a middle ground for your love of wisdom!

Answer 3

1. Chill out.
2. Why would you ever let somebody "talk" you into getting a PhD in Philosophy? Did you plan on opening a Philosophy Store? Were you going to sell consciousness?
3. Can you really consider any education a "waste of time"?
4. McDonalds is ALWAYS hiring.

Answer 4

exciting is only too gentle a be conscious. Joyous is greater on element. each and every so often philosophy will become joyous -- extremely mathematical logic -- extremely once you have made a step forward it is obviously a hundred% new, very popular, a actual Eureka 2d -- you are the 1st pioneer to have chanced in this new land of logical certainty -- like Lewis and Clark, or like Magellan getting in the process the straights down there by skill of Tierra del Fuego. exciting (too trivial in its connotations). excitement -- a greater advantageous be conscious. Ecstasy perhaps the terrific be conscious, and it lasts for a whole minute or 2, and after that Deep Peace, it is likewise an exceptionally super feeling, somewhat perhaps previous "exciting".

Answer 5

It is obvious you have had some poor narrow minded Professors. I teach philosophy in college, and my students love the way I present it. I utilize the classroom as an forum, so to allow the students to express themselves if it is apporpriate. I believe you have had enough of philosophy, but that is a sad decision to give up. Philosophy has a very practical side to it. For one it teaches independent thinking, it teaches objective and dispassionate approach to issues, it teaches communication skills, improves writing skills, it teaches problem solving skills. It would seem to me, that you haven't experienced any of that in your classes.
Unfortunately, many philosophy instructors are very biased, and only teach what they want you to learn. If I were you I would try another institute, I teach at Burlington County College in Pemberton and Mt. Laurel, N.J. This semester I am teaching intro to Philosophy.

Answer 6

Wow. I guess it’s just not your thing. I love my philosophy studies. I guess you got to be into it. Still, didn’t you know before you got into it that you didn’t like it? What were you thinking, getting a degree in a field you hate?

It depends on how far along you are to the PhD. If you are almost there then finish. It won’t matter. PhD's look good in just about any field you go into. If you still have a ways to go, screw it. No sense torturing yourself. You could be dead tomorrow and you have to ask yourself if it would have been worth it.

Answer 7

I have a B.A. in philosophy and unless your main love in life is hairsplitting, then I would avoid it. It does seem a waste to not at least finish if you've come this far, but then time is valuable so you have to weigh which is more important to you. If you stop now, how soon can you get back to what you want to do? That's the real issue.

Answer 8

Face the music. Get up there and give your dissertation to those who rule. Make a great presentation, defend your argument, and add panache to your show. Get your Phd., then go back to your true love marine biology.

Answer 9

Sounds like a bad case of educational burnout. Take a little time off, and regroup, then decide what you want to do.

Answer 10

Don't waste your time doing something you hate. You have the power to change your own situation.