Is Philosophy Hard?

Philosophy is the study of topics including but not limited to ethics, existence, time, meaning, thought, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Modern philosophy also includes the study of epistemology and metaphysics.

In this article, we will explore the difficulty of a philosophy major and answer any questions that you may have regarding the subject.

Is Philosophy Hard?

Philosophy is hard. Students find philosophy a difficult subject because it requires intellectual rigor, staying on top of challenging reading material, intense research, strong reasoning skills, analytical abilities, and being able to express your arguments through writing and debating.

Philosophy is a broad subject. It requires a lot of research on the smallest topics. One must be an effortless reader because that is a prerequisite for studying philosophy. Moreover, one must prepare themselves for understanding difficult terms and ideas.

Philosophy is divided into three major areas:

  • Theory of Reality: Ontology & Metaphysics,
  • Theory of Knowledge: Epistemology–from episteme and logos, and
  • Theory of Value: Axiology.

It also involves understanding philosophers like Immanuel Kant and Heidegger, who writes the most complex sentences.

As a philosophy student, you are expected to come up with original ideas and back them with relevant evidence. There are so many perspectives and arguments on a single topic that one must put a great deal of effort and time into going through all the available literature to come up with original content.

Furthermore, you are expected to write lengthy papers with particular emphasis on critical analysis. Modules like formal logic tend to give students a tough time. It may remind you of math because of the rules involved whilst the idea is arbitrary.

Philosophy is also considered hard because of its intangibility. Philosophy is all about thoughts and ideas. In addition, you’re supposed to refine, clarify, and explain them using the best possible language while backing your ideas with evidence all at the same time.

Philosophy involves working out a method for solving some of the most profound problems we encounter as humans for which there exists little or no prior method. It requires thinking outside the box.

As Immanuel Kant pointed out that philosophy was about understanding what came before experience, something he thought was impossible to achieve.

Philosophy can be extremely hard and boring if you do not like excessive reading, thinking, and writing because honestly, that’s what it is all about. However, if you are passionate about the subject then learning the material will be more pleasure than work.

Which is Harder Psychology or Philosophy?

Philosophy is slightly harder than psychology since it is more open-ended, rigorous, and requires more critical thinking. Both psychology and philosophy require a great deal of reading, researching, writing, debating, and analyzing.

To answer this question fully, we must understand the difference between the two. Psychology and Philosophy have the same roots; both focus on human beings.

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behavior. Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.

Psychology is the more factual and concrete of the two. Understanding and memorizing the material is sufficient to do well in psychology. Philosophy, on the other hand, is much more open-ended. There is less memorization and more critical thinking and analysis involved due to its abstract nature.

The pattern of studying is quite similar for both subjects. Reading and writing play a huge role. Both require a lot of research. Philosophy texts are full of ideas that might be expressed in long and complicated sentences whose meaning is ambiguous. Psychology has a lot of terminologies and ideas that can make the subject challenging.

Based on the general consensus, philosophy is a bit harder than psychology. Philosophy is a very demanding subject. Psychology has a much more limited set of questions to answer. In the end, it really depends on your area of interest which subject you will find harder.

Is Philosophy a Respected Degree? 

Philosophy is a well-respected degree. Philosophy is considered a respected degree since it is a prestigious degree, has several complex and challenging ideas, and requires a great deal of critical thinking and analysis.

Philosophy is one of the oldest academic subjects in the world. The skills will learn during your philosophy degree are quite useful in a number of areas. If you tell anyone you are pursuing philosophy it will give you a wow factor since it’s too abstract or complex for most people.

A degree in philosophy can up your resume because the employer knows that you have the ability to think critically and coherently.

Opting for philosophy can help you gain employment in a number of fields including teaching, content writing, law, philosophy, public relations, politics and public policy, religion, business, and management.

A philosophy degree coupled with a technical degree is a great combination. It can give you an edge over people with just a technical degree since you will have better problem-solving and analytical skills.

Philosophy is a well-respected degree. A Philosophy graduate is an all-rounder, fit for any job, from computing to journalism.

Is Learning Philosophy A Waste of Time?

For starters, learning anything including philosophy is never a waste of time. Philosophy might not be as practically useful in the real world as science or business, but it teaches you to think critically and logically. Philosophy gives you a perspective on life.

Philosophy has a close link with science. Some of the best mathematicians were also philosophers. The ability to think logically and coherently, and discuss abstract ideas is one of the most important skills in various fields today.

Many people believe philosophy is irrelevant in today’s world, however, philosophy is argued to be the foundation of knowledge. Although it is true that philosophy can leave you confused and full of questions it can also provide you with much-needed self-growth and self-actualization.

Philosophy is not a waste of time especially if you are someone who wants to spend a few years studying abstract and complex ideas that affect human beings on different levels. Do not let uninformed advice hold you back if it is something you really want to pursue.

What Jobs Can I do if I Study Philosophy?

A bachelor’s degree in philosophy by itself does not prepare you for a specific career since its primary goal is to make you a better thinker and writer. It will give you a broad and general understanding of how the world works and your role in it.

Liberal art degrees such as Philosphy will not equip you with technical skills that will make you instantly employable as compared to other technical majors such as engineering, chemistry, accounting, and computer science.

Careers that demand skills like critical and abstract thinking become viable by studying philosophy. A student with a philosophical background is known to perform exceptionally on the LSAT; so pursuing law is a great career pathway.

Moreover, working in the education sector; a philosophy major can prepare you to teach general humanities.

Moreover, you can work in the education sector on the back of your heightened ability to articulate your ideas and views. Similarly, journalism is another career path for a philosophy major due to your enhanced writing and research skills. Public relations, politics, and government administration are fields you can get into as a philosophy major.

Philosophy degrees often help you develop strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills which are essential to succeed in the business and management fields. Pursuing work in physics, math, and computer science fields is a great option for philosophy majors.

Is Philosophy a Boring Subject?

Everyone has a different taste in terms of what they find interesting or boring. If you’re someone whose eyes brighten up at the thought of reading long and complex writings, you enjoy literature, and you feel discussing thoughts and ideas is fascinating then you will find philosophy interesting.

Philosophy literature contains wordy passages with tons of perplexing details and unfamiliar concepts and jargon. People may find this intimidating and boring.

Philosophy classes are all about long discussions with your instructor and peers. You may find that your instructor spends a week in its entirety on a single idea or concept.

Some aspects and topics of philosophy can be duller than others. The way you are taught philosophy can impact whether you find the subject boring or not. Reading and writing without much interaction can be repetitive and monotonous.

Conclusion

Philosophy is a difficult major that is well respected and regarded by society as a whole. The analytical and critical thinking skills developed through studying psychology are invaluable in several fields.

Philosophy is considered a boring and mundane subject by a large number of people; however, if you are interested and passionate about the subject then you should go for it!