CSUEB Professors Co-Author Book Encouraging Students to Consider Studying Philosophy
- November 25, 2015
The authors of a newly-published book about philosophy are hoping to help college and college-bound students make better-informed decisions when it comes to choosing philosophy as their major and career.
“Philosophy for the Curious: Why Study Philosophy?” is an academic reference for high school, college and university students considering a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree in philosophy.
“I would hope that students might find this useful in determining the best course of study for themselves; the major that is the best fit for their own interests and passions,” said Dr. Christopher Moreman, the philosophy department chair and an associate professor at CSU East Bay.
Moreman, along with CSUEB Professors Dr. Robert Gorton and Dr. Jacob Blair, co-authored a chapter entitled, “Philosophy Satisfies the Curious Student,” in which they define exactly what philosophy is as a subject, and explain the practical merits of studying it.
“Philosophy is not something that I happen to teach or that I just have some interest in, rather, I am a philosopher,” Gorton said. “Philosophy is in my very being, in which case, my contribution to this book, and very likely those of other contributors, might convey the vital importance of philosophy to me and other philosophers.”
Moreman, Gorton, and Blair are among more than 25 professors from universities and colleges in the U.S. and abroad, including the University of Cambridge, Kings College London and McMaster University, who collaborated on this book.
“There are books on philosophy from the perspective of a single author,” Dr. Kishor Vaidya, editor-in-chief at Curious Academic Publishing said. “However, there hasn't been a resourceful guide that offers multiple perspectives as to why one should study philosophy. This book does.”
According to Vaidya, who is also an associate professor at the University of Canberra, Australia, the professors have offered powerful perspectives in plain terms, with answers to some important questions for students and faculty, including what the potential research areas and scholarship opportunities are in philosophy, what jobs/career options are available, and best practice tips for philosophy graduates looking for employment.
"Recent research studies show that over 80 percent of first-year students are undecided about their major and that most of them will change their minds multiple times even after they declare their major,” Vaidya said. “Some students graduate from high school and college never knowing that philosophy is an option. This highlights the need for this book."