Why every student should learn philosophy

I am enrolled in the Philosophy program at my school and I am planning to do a double-major with English and Philosophy. I love to think and to write, so this makes sense for me. Of course these two majors aren't very logical to go for since they don't provide a good job afterwards, unless you want to go to grad school and become a professor or you want to become a teacher.

Most people I know are either "science" or "arts" people. Either they are better at math and science or they are better at arts subjects. The "in betweens" are the social sciences because they sort of combine science and arts, like Psychology and Sociology. I used to want to major in Psych (and I still might) but that is besides the point.

The point is that being an arts student is extremely rewarding. I am not saying "Quick! Everyone go get an arts degree!" I just mean that at some point in your life you should either enrol in a single credit of philosophy, english, history, whatever your arts preference or perhaps just read a lot of literature based on a few subjects. I think it is extremely healthy and although shouldn't be a requirement, should be strongly recommended by most universities to have to have at least 1 credit in an arts subject.

I was reading an article in Macleans (here) about french students who think Philosophy shouldn't have to be a requirement since it doesn't prepare you for the "real life".

The real life?
THE REAL LIFE?

The real life should involve questioning, studying and your mind playing an active role in the understanding of great metaphysical questions and the questioning of ethics. The mind should have to do this. Why? It's simple. Blind commitment. If our society just keeps progressing we are going to start forgetting why we do the things we do. For example, Why do we shop in grocery stores instead of farming? Why do we want to get jobs? These questions are things everyone should have to really think of and answer. It doesn't even have to be ancient philosophy, it should be modern philosophy.

Maybe this is an over exaggeration and a fallacy, but I am just trying to prove to you that it is important to question things and if you have to force a mandatory philosophy credit upon students to get them to start questioning things, then do so.

If I could have it my way, I would have Philosophy a mandatory credit in high school for grade 11 students, just when they are starting to try to figure out their futures. If I could, I would also make philosophy a mandatory credit in university for first year students, although there are no assignments and although the reading is "recommended", the attendance is necessary, you have to pass by having attended something like 95% or even 100% of all classes. This way it barely takes away from your actual subject of study since there is no outside work, just perhaps a 1-3 hour lecture per week, for one or two semesters. That is it. No laptops, as well, so you have to pay attention. If I could have it more my way, again, I would have a seminar once a week as well in small groups so they can discuss what they learned in the lecture earlier in the week.

I want to ponder on my "modern philosophy" point. I think that people should have a healthy skepticism. Maybe the university philosophy course can be chosen more specifically to be a historical philosophy from a certain time period, a general overview or a more "modern" philosophy. Basically, questioning things that are around us today, like I said earlier like "Why do we go to the grocery store instead of farm?". Being able to question these things just makes us understand the world around us, a little more.

But the learning of philosophy or any other arts subject definitely doesn't have to happen in classrooms or lecture halls, it can happen in libraries, on the internet, or even alone.

I do understand how people find the study of things like literature, philosophy and history to be completely useless, but it isn't. People think that since it doesn't lead to a career that it is worthless to society. These people are the ones who tend to forget that getting a career isn't the be-all and the end-all.


If you are interested in learning anything about philosophy in specifics I suggest:
- Starting off with some Plato which is fairly easy to understand or perhaps Nietzsche if you have an advanced reading level and want to be slightly entertained because Nietzsche has some crazy ideas (which I love)
AND/OR
- Just question things around you
AND/OR
- Enrolling in one college credit at the college or university near you, perhaps you can just enrol in a "non-degree" which usually means that you can walk into any class and just pay attention, not get a degree and not have to do any work
AND/OR
- Have fun reading the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy http://plato.stanford.edu/ This is the best resource for everything philosophy. It is highly reliable and you can certainly learn from it. I've used it for research projects in the past but I suppose you could just read it for fun if you wanted to

Having fun expanding your minds!

14 Lessons I've learned in High School

I feel like my blog is about to get repetitive, focusing around the topics of grad, prom and university. So many big changes. Anyways. Here is a list of lessons I've learned throughout high school.

1. Drama is stupid, yet unavoidable. 

Drama seems so cliche, yet it is so hard to avoid, even if you're trying. Guys start drama as well as girls. It is stupid, and it won't last forever. 

2. It doesn't matter if you have a boyfriend or not.

Considering the fact I went though high school without ever having a boyfriend... well I lived. I wish I had one, of course, but if you don't ever have a boyfriend or girlfriend, it is not terrible. 

3. Being alone is okay.

It is okay if you have days without friends or people to talk to. I used to have terrible anxiety in like grade 9 when my friends weren't at school, or when I had a class without any friends in it. It's stupid to be anxious over that, now I am fine on my own, whenever. 

4. Your teachers won't bite you.

I don't know why I was afraid of talking to teachers in younger grades, I get that it can be weird/scary to some people to talk to them, but it won't hurt you, just do it.

5. You will lose friends.

I don't know anybody who hasn't either lost a friend, had one move away, or switched who your best friend is. Things change, people change. 

6. Its okay to start new things halfway through high school.

In grade 9 and a bit of grade 10 I was super stressed about finding my "thing" because I felt like everybody had something, whether it was a sport or a club. I didn't really join anything, then, and I was kind of too shy to, as well. I did craft club for a bit in grade 9. I did hip hop outside of school in grade 

nine. Grade 11 I did GSA (gay straight alliance). Grade 12 I signed up for cross country. I started running in grade 11, and I wasn't really athletic before then... you can get new hobbies and likes later rather than earlier in grade 9. Don't be afraid to join something in grade 9, and don't think you'll be excluded because you are now in grade 11 or 12. 

7. Grades are important, but what you learn is more important.

I got a 78% in Exercise science, which I knew I would be bad at that course since I am terrible at memorization and science, but I learned so many good lessons. I am glad I took that course... even though it was my lowest mark in a grade 12 course. I learned more in that course than I did in grade 12 law, which is my highest mark at the moment.

8. Don't take a course just because your friend is in it.

If you don't want to take that course, then don't. Simple as that.

9. The purpose of school is to learn, not to goof off with friends.

Schools were created to learn inside of. Learn inside of them. Make friends, sure, do that, it is part of the high school experience and you should make friends. But honestly, when it comes down to it, learning is the most important part in high school. Use your time outside of school to goof off. 

10. You aren't going to like everything/everyone.

You are going to hate some of your courses, teachers and classmates. But it is a skill you are going to have to develop, to cope with things you hate. Don't skip or get into fights over it, just deal with it and focus on the courses, teachers and classmates you actually like.

11. It isn't that bad. 

At times things do get bad. Being a teenager is stressful, you will go through things that will make you want to punch a puppy, but it passes. You always hear that high school is terrible and it really isn't. You will have good and bad experiences. But in the end, graduating, the good experiences are all that matter.

12. Stay healthy and active and don't sacrifice sleep (too often).
Don't eat cafeteria food EVERYDAY. Once in a while is okay. But do try to eat healthy. You don't have to join football or track, but at least try to walk or something. Being healthy and active help your brain. I don't recommend pulling all-nighters, but once in a while is okay. Try to get 7+ hours of sleep. I recommend about 8. But try not to go below 7. Sleep is your friend.

13. Don't get too busy. 
Don't take 4 hard courses, get a part time job, volunteer and keep up your social life. You are going to have to quit SOMETHING. There were many times in high school my course load was really light, so I could spend my time doing whatever. But I had 2 part time jobs from 2nd semester grade 11 until partway through 1st semester grade 12. In grade 11, it was fine. At the time I had law, history, english and art. My course load wasn't light, but it wasn't too bad. Grade 12 1st semester I had english, 2 history courses and exercise science, and I couldn't keep up with the amount of exercise I was doing and my two jobs, so I had to quit one. You will be more stressed out if you try to "have it all". You are going to have to quit something, don't fear it.

14. Record what you do in high school.
Buy a yearbook every year, write a journal, blog, take photos, make videos, keep keepsakes and timetables. Make a box, put the stuff in it, open it up 10 years from now, cry. You want to remember these things. Grade 9 + 10 I took a LOT of photos and videos. I write journals, not often, but maybe 6-8 times a YEAR about all of the important things. I keep any certificates, funny things my friends drew, I keep some of my notes from my favourite classes. Someday I'll be glad I did this. You should do this now, too.






I'm going to miss my school.