Math Major Wondering About Philosophy Grad School

juillet
Tue, 28 Jan 2014 06:43:30 +0000

But what should be the key factor in deciding whether I choose math or philosophy… should that greater security determine which way I go?

Personally, I think these decisions should be a combination of economic/job security/feasibility and interests. I would never tell you to get a PhD in math because there are more jobs if you don’t see yourself studying and researching math for a career. That’s a recipe for misery, and there are enough miserable graduate students out there! The key factor should be interest. I would wager most professors work at least 50-60 hours a week, and this is the kind of work that follows you around all hours of the day and night. I think about my research as I’m laying in bed trying to fall asleep, in the shower, on the way back from the gym, while I’m cooking…whatever it is you want to research so badly that it makes you jump out of the shower dripping wet to scribble down an idea, or sit up at 3 am and hop on the computer to type out a paper idea, or tap an idea into your phone while you’re walking on the treadmill…that’s what you should study. (Yes, I’ve done all of those things.) BUT most people don’t want to work for 6-8 years earning a degree they won’t use, which is why I say economic feasibility should be at least a factor in your decision.

* Also, since my intro to philosophy class, I’ve done a fair share of philosophical reading on my own, strictly out of curiosity*

Good! Keep reading, and take it a step further and write. You don’t have to write a scholarly magnum opus, but keep a journal (electronic or paper) about your thoughts on what you read. That’s the next step. Don’t try to make it jargon-esque, or worry about style or substance. But writing about your own thoughts on what you read is the next step towards being a scholar. If you like doing that - a lot - then you may be cut out for this.

…Also, another point is I love writing and always have, and (besides proofs) there’s not much writing involved in math… at least, that’s been my experience.

At your level, no. But the medium of scholarly communication is the scientific journal article, so mathematicians do write a lot at the PhD level. That is, in part, how they communicate their work to other mathematicians. The level and kind of writing will be very different from a humanities scholar, though.

* What would all of you do if you were almost a senior and realized your true interests MIGHT lay elsewhere than your chosen major? Would you take a 5th year of undergrad to further explore those interests? *

NO. I’d get a job.

I’m not trying to be snarky at all. I believe in exploring your interests and taking yourself to the next level; I’m a PhD student myself. BUT there are so many other ways to learn than to stay in college, and I wish more undergrads new that (including myself, 6 years ago). Please graduate, and don’t spend any more money.

If you aren’t sure what you want to do, take as many philosophy classes as you can until you graduate. If you’re still not sure by the time you graduate, seek a job that seems interesting to you - it doesn’t have to be in a particular area or field, just one that seems interesting and pays the bills. Once you are working 9-5 you have all evening and all weekend to explore your other interests and try to decide whether you want to go to graduate school. If you live in or near a large city, your public library may have some scholarly holdings in philosophy. If you live nearby a university or college, you may be able to get access (either as a community member or an alumnus if you stay near your alma mater) to at least read in, and perhaps borrow, books. Read, and read widely. Living near a university or large city also means you may be able to attend lecture series by prominent philosophers and perhaps, even, take a class or two. The boon would be if you were able to get a job at a college or university - usually you can take one or two classes for free each semester, and you’d also have access to the libraries and lectures schedules.

Use that time, and those kinds of resources, to explore your interests and decide whether you want to go back to school and in what. Heck, you may decide 2 years from now that what you really want to do is study the philosophy and history of science (there are programs for that), or science public policy (ditto).