Topics Profession

Question I have a rather simple question. I am majoring in biology right now and am thinking of switching to philosophy. The thing is the advisor told me that there really aren't any jobs for that field. He said I would basically have to go to a prestigious school to get one of the few jobs out there. Is this true? Are there really not many jobs in the philosophy field? Thanks.

Accepted:
April 22, 2006

Comments

The answer depends a bit on the country you're in. I answer on the assumption that you are an undergraduate student in the US.

Finding a job as a professional philosopher after completing a PhD in this field is a good bit harder than the average for all careers. Still, the odds are not against success. There are somewhere around 25,000 professional philosophers in the US and only about 75 philosophy departments producing PhDs. So, much of the selection takes place already at the stage where people apply to graduate schools. Those who get the PhD normally find a job. In this job search, the quality and prestige of the university, of its philosophy department, and of the student's supervisor do indeed play a major role. You can find lots of information about these matters on www.philosophicalgourmet.com and elsewhere.

All this suggests that a philosophy major aiming to be an academic philosopher should think seriously about other careers if s/he cannot get into a philosophy department that is in the top half, at least in his/her intended specialty. Choosing another career goal at this stage does not mean that the undergraduate study of philosophy was wasted. There are alternative careers in which undergraduate philosophy training is highly useful. A career in the law is one: many philosophy majors go on to law schools and do quite well there. But philosophy is good preparation for a wide variety of careers, and may well be the best major to choose for those whose career choice is still quite unsettled. Moreover, studying philosophy and learning to think philosophically has its own rewards which often last a lifetime (as I have been told many times when meeting people in other careers who had majored in philosophy).

In conclusion, if you are attracted to a career in biology, you should probably stay with it and satisfy your philosophical curiosity through an occasional course in philosophy. If you feel that a career in biology (or a related area) is probably not for you, then career worries should not keep you from majoring in philosophy.