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I couldn’t help but notice that some disciplines are much better than others when it comes to demonstrating what their alumni do after graduation. In my opinion, philosophy is, undoubtedly, the leader in this regard.
Maybe it’s because in the neo-liberal university there are so few tenure track positions in philosophy that there is simply no point in pretending otherwise. Afterall, philosophy students aren’t exactly motivated by avarice. Many have been largely written off by friends and family as being so “out of touch” with the real world, that pursuing a grad degree seems to fit, in a quirky sort of way.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not philosophy-bashing. I spent years trying to convince want-to-be lawyers that courses in philosophy would be much more valuable to them on the bench than Law and Society. In fact my daughter is writing her MA thesis in Philosophy and Gender this summer – and she’s one of the most interesting and socially adept people I know, obvious bias aside, of course!
In fact it was she who forwarded me this link which got me thinking about this in the first place. It’s ironic that in holding philosophy up as the quintessential “nerd” field in academe, people writing on the subject have collectively amassed more examples and information about what philosophy graduates end up doing than any other field I know.
Ephilosopher is another example of this discipline refusing to softly into the good night of academic oblivion. I just wish other disciplines took note of what it is philosophy is doing so well and followed suit. Rather than suggesting we cap enrollment to PhD programs, perhaps we should be taking a look at the value of nuanced and flexible thinkers in many areas of today’s world. Again, philosophy comes near the top.
