2007-02-23 11:37:12 · 8 answers · asked by repugnant 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Doesn't seem to be much of a demand for it.
2007-02-23 11:39:45 · answer #1 · answered by the Boss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Philosophy isn't a terribly popular undergraduate degree choice. Nevertheless, competition for professorial positions remains fierce.
It is amusing that philosophy is perhaps the only field that constantly questions its own legitimacy. In what other field could you write a thesis arguing that your entire academic field is a bunch of horse crap?
Here's what I would say: As for western philosophy's long obsession with capital-T Truth, capital-E Essence, and capital-R Reality, the gig may indeed be up. The failure of metaphysics threatens to implode the very ground the field of philosophy often purports to stand on. But I don't think it will. First.. you use the word "art" in your question. This gets at what I think is a very important point.. there is great merit itself in the "art" of attempting to tackle such dificult conceptual problems. Philosophy can still ride for a long time on the project of.. debunking universalist/metaphysical claims.. and I think philosophy still has a little non-metaphysical territory it can dominate. The philosopher can still be a multidisciplinary cultural critic. Read Rorty.. he talks about this kind of thing extensively. Whether or not the discipline of philosophy can really survive on such a gutted conception of its raison d'etre remains to be seen. I don't think philosophy will become "extinct" any time soon. Philsoophy asks fundamental questions, often operating on the edge of human knowledge.. pushing the envelope and dealing with conceptual difficulties at the most abstract level.
Philosophy may have changed dramatically, but I don't think the field is going to disappear.
2007-02-23 15:12:55 · answer #2 · answered by Matt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as we maintain their written record philosophy shall never diminish. The accessibility for people to philosophy is at its highest but so is the slander for it by the religious and egoistic atheists. The study for the student of public education should start at grade six. There is no subject in existence that is able to escape philosophy; its history is religion AND science. Only superstitious chauvinists block the way against the young...hmmm, how young could a superstitious chauvinist be I wonder.
2007-02-23 13:01:14 · answer #3 · answered by Psyengine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be, because we are not exactly living in the Golden age of education. When I took philosophy in college the professor would get mad if you expressed your own thoughts. Also in this time of the scientific method, students are not encouraged to examine quantities that are not measurable.
The media plays a big part in controlling what we think also. You could also be ostracized for being "politically incorrect." When you do not agree with others, they are always accusing you of not being a free-thinker. So the motto of the times is: "you're free to think like me."
2007-02-23 11:51:55 · answer #4 · answered by ignoramus_the_great 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i hope not!!!
i need more ding dongs that think they are intelligent when theyre really dumber than a rock to take my order, flip burgers, serve my fries.
philosophers make me laugh my AS$ off because they qualify themselves as intelligent and cutting edge without any tangible results. it's like working at a company, saying you are doing all this work and have done NOTHING!!! it's amazing how easy it is to say that one is on the cutting edge, ahead of their times and out of box thinkers when it is the philosophers who are mentally ill, cant hold a real job down, on welfare and are, basically, a parasite to society!!!
but...i forget...burger flippers...yes...no tomato, please! hey, i said please...
2007-02-23 11:54:16 · answer #5 · answered by jkk k 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would seem to be so. Judging by this section it is diminishing!
-Seeker
2007-02-23 12:17:19 · answer #6 · answered by Seeker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. True philosophers have always been ahead of their times and on the fringes of their society as it was. We exist, but we aren't very popular. Philosophers never are.
2007-02-23 11:39:51 · answer #7 · answered by Jason D 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes it's so fragmented, its all departmentalised these days. Bring back the good old days.
2007-02-23 11:41:02 · answer #8 · answered by fatherf.lotski 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋