The Study of Philosophy: Challenges and Prospects
The main thrust of this paper is to ascertain the relative importance of studying philosophy in a commercialized and technology driven world. The paper establishes that a training in philosophy is a feasible means of achieving self-emancipation, discovery and accomplishment.
Philosophy has witnessed tremendous changes since the first conscious attempt at it was made by Greek philosopher, Thales. Today, the number of institutions offering philosophy as a course of study at the undergraduate level no doubt is on the increase and there is a steady increase being witnesses in student enrollments. Ironically, most students who do not intend to study philosophy initially constitute a significant percentage of the student population in most departments of philosophy.
This partly explains why many students of philosophy at the undergraduate level are at sea about their future not to talk of the stark reality of the competitive nature of the labor market, which is biased towards management and science and technology courses. Obviously, (under)graduates of philosophy constantly ponder on what the future holds for them in the labor market.
Moreover, the world is yet to take cognizance of the importance of philosophy as a prominent contributor to its economy over the last centuries. Though, a number of countries in the last few decades have experienced dramatic changes as a result of the activities of graduates of philosophy who find themselves in the different sectors of the economy. Be it, banking, consulting, sales and marketing, communications, transportation, intelligence, construction, administration the list is endless. Candidly, their training in philosophy has sharpened their horizon and propelled them towards making a mark in a world that gives no room for laggards. Philosophy, in this wise, is a springboard to self-discovery and self-fulfillment. Some people, however, are still skeptical about the thought of philosophy putting food on their table. Why blame them? It is the environment in which they find themselves.
What is philosophy?
Obviously, the world is tired of mysteries; it longs for reality, and answers. What is reality? What is Truth? Where may it be found? And how may it be used? These are the questions an intelligent person asks, and he may find his answers in the study of philosophy. Philosophy is the impetus behind all the rational activities of man.
It is only absent when there are sufficient reasons to believe that members of any given human society are not rational.[1] Philosophy has its roots in the religion, myth as well as culture of a people. From the Western point of view, philosophy is etymologically derived from the Greek verb Philein meaning 'to love' and Sophia meaning 'wisdom'. In this context, philosophy is defined as the love of wisdom or to love wisdom. According to The New International Webster's Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language, philosophy is defined: the word love of wisdom as leading to the search for it; hence, knowledge of general principles- elements, powers, or causes and laws -as explaining facts and existence.[2]
Historically, Thales, Anaximander, and the like representing the Ionian School started the quest known today as 'philosophy' by wondering on the fundamental element(s) that constitute the universe around 600BC. From their cosmological speculations, Socrates and subsequent thinkers cum philosophers shifted attention to man's existential condition, socio-political structure and arrangement, the existence of God, nature of miracle, the concept of death among other issues of interest.
It is, however, instructive to note that thinkers, scholars, as well as opinion molders have given different definitions, coloration and conceptualization to what philosophy is. Underneath all these postulations, is the fact that philosophy deals with ideas, speculations and reflection. As human beings, we are endowed with a thinking faculty; a consciousness with which we generate ideas and reflect on them. Hence, the popular maxim 'ideas rule the world'. On this basis, we can reasonably assert that philosophy is the critical appraisal of the ideas we live by. These ideas pass through the mills of sound reasoning and at the end, our society is better off for it. By implication, the interest of philosophy cum philosophers is the test and critical evaluation of all that is and is to be.
What constitutes philosophy?
When we talk of constitutive elements of philosophy, we mean the core areas of philosophy. The traditional areas of philosophy - ethics, metaphysics, logic and epistemology are at the heart of the study of philosophy. It is instructive to note that recent areas of study such as Socio-Political Philosophy, Aesthetics, Ontology, Philosophy of Religion, Bio-Medical Ethics, Philosophy of Science, etc. have also emerged while new ones are still emerging. All these make up the curriculum of academic philosophy. Lets lake a brief insight into the core areas of philosophy:
Ethics: Writing on Ethics, Robert Bowie defines it as a branch of philosophy concerned with morality.[3] Ethics is one of the core areas of study in philosophy which deals with our moral conducts. It asks and seeks to answer questions such as: To what extent are we responsible for our actions? Why do we have to live a moral life? This aptly explains why Ethics as a branch of philosophy is also referred to as moral philosophy. Ethics deals with judgments as to the rightness or wrongness, virtuous or vicious, desirability or undesirability, approval or disapproval of our actions.[4] The essence of ethics is not just to produce a reasonable and virtuous man, but also to create a society where our actions are guided by best practices.
Logic: Logic, as a branch of philosophy, is aims at equipping us with the tools and techniques of correct reasoning. Logic deals with arguments and argument forms. We are able to distinguish good from bad arguments, valid from invalid arguments, and sound from unsound arguments. We regard Logic from two different points of view: on one hand, logic is an instrument or organon, for appraising the correctness of reasoning; on the other hand, the principles and methods of logic used as organon are interesting and important topics to be themselves systematically investigated.[5] Logic is a systematic study with laid down procedures and rule which must be adhered to, especially in proving validity. Logic is persuasive rather than forceful. Nonetheless, logic can be defined as an exact science of reasoning.
Epistemology: Epistemology is the branch of philosophy which investigates the bases and processes of cognition. What do we know? How do we know? Is our knowledge justifiable? What is knowledge? Nature and kinds of knowledge? Criteria of truth? Is there absolute truth and indubitable knowledge? These and many more are the concerns of epistemology. It investigates critically the nature, grounds, limits, and criteria, or validity, of human knowledge.[6] As the theory of knowledge, epistemology is principally concerned with the justification of our knowledge, it attempts to make the foundation of our knowledge firm against skepticism.
Metaphysics: In the realm of metaphysics, fundamental questions about our existence, reality and purpose are raised whilst answers are sought. Writing on metaphysics, Edward Craig (1998) asserts that metaphysics is a broad area of philosophy marked out by two types of inquiry. The first aims to be the most general investigation possible into the nature of reality: are there principles applying to everything that is real, to all that is?... the second type of inquiry seeks to uncover what is ultimately real, frequently offering answers in sharp contrast to our everyday experience of the world.[7]
Challenges of studying philosophy
Among the numerous challenges facing the study of philosophy is the lack of proper and adequate knowledge of what philosophy means. Many people take philosophy to mean different things. To some, it is an intellectual activity. Some sees it as purely an academic engagement. To others, it poses a threat to their religious beliefs. The nature of the course itself does not help matters. Philosophy tends to be studied in its abstractness. Studying philosophy in its abstract nature is like studying in isolation, which is nothing but a mere mental exercise which does not align with global realities. Moreover, the study of philosophy is faced with a crisis of acceptability and relevance in a country like Nigeria. Students of philosophy have to contend with the relevance of their course of study in a society which purposely funds and supports studies into management, law, medicine, science and technology-related courses while paying little or no attention to courses in humanities such as philosophy.
In a related development, the study of philosophy is regarded by a large number of people as a journey into uncertainty. This is might be because there is no ready market for its graduates. It is crystal clear that the chances of getting a job after graduation are very slim for students studying philosophy considering the fact that most people erroneously confuse philosophy for an abstract discipline. Moreover, holders of degrees in professional courses such as law, Finance, Accounting, Banking, Economics, Medicine, and the like are in hot demand thus leaving the crumbs for graduates of other courses like philosophy. Discrimination is another problem one has to contend with even when you are lucky enough to get a job. Graduates and students of Medicine, Law and Engineering among others are treated as 'specials' at the work place. Suffice to say, therefore, that students who study philosophy will be treated indifferently.
A look at our education system in Nigeria shows an urgent need for constant a review and updating of our school curricula. Training and re-training of our academia should be of paramount importance. All these are in a bid to enrich our academic content as well as produce qualitative graduates who are job creators and not job seekers. Sadly enough, we parade a demoralized manpower based in our various institutions of higher learning. Many lecturers lack sincerity of purpose and passion for the teaching job.
They constitute a clog in the wheel of success of many promising students. Worst still, some of those who even teach philosophy are neither philosophy majors nor have a full grasp of what the discipline entails as well as the current trends aside the academic world. Hence, many of them force their frustrations, prejudices, biases and ill-conceived ideas on students thus inhibiting their student's capacity to explore, be creative and think critically.
It is also noteworthy to point out that there is no proper induction and orientation program for new intakes in most Nigerian universities save for the efforts of students bodies such as the National Association of Philosophy Students, Lagos State University. Departments of philosophy need not leave orientation programs to the students' bodies alone but be practically involved in its planning and implementation. This is premised on the fact that for us to produce qualitative graduates with sound minds, who can compete globally, there is the need for proper mentoring and monitoring of students academically and otherwise. Adequate academic manpower to sustain the system is also lacking.
On a further note, many parents view philosophy is a no go area. To them, studying philosophy is not financially rewarding hence they discourage their wards from venturing into it. This is aside peers influence and societal demands. Prospective students choose philosophy as a second choice or a course of last resort. Such is the fate of philosophy that prides itself as the mother of all disciplines. Come to think of it, the stone rejected by the builder can become the cornerstone.
Our Alumni base is nothing to write home about. There is no system in place to monitor the progress of graduates of the discipline; to know how they are faring as well as the challenges they face in the various sectors of the economy where they eke out a living. In fact, an Alumni association is a veritable source of funding researches and sustaining programs in our universities. Apart from funding, the town and gown needs to constantly rub minds and share experiences which will in turn make the study of philosophy not only interesting but also worthwhile.
Prospects of studying of philosophy
The skepticism towards the study of philosophy is usually in seeing no relevance in the course; it's considered a waste of precious time. Positions such as these, in essence, are the premises upon which people ask the question: why study philosophy?
Philosophy, as an academic discipline, is not just abstract; it is also theoretical. The theories are interesting and are meant to acquaint students with philosophic insights. Such insights are essential in such a fast-paced, slippery, dynamic, demanding and challenging environment we live. As philosophers, we are better positioned to appreciate the problems of our environment and proffer solutions to them, thereby becoming agents of change either in the religious, cultural, economic or socio-political sphere.
I vividly remember with nostalgia, for instance, my tenure as the president of the body of student philosophers in Lagos State University, Nigeria. I marshaled all resources at my disposal towards initiating programs that would ignite the passion for academic excellence whilst also preparing my constituency for life after the study of philosophy. My conviction for such calculated effort is based on my belief that 'the art of critical thinking is a fundamental disposition which ought to be developed in man.' Moreover, it is obvious that we presently live at the mercy at science and its technological spin off. Without ethical considerations, we might find ourselves in an anarchist society, a Hobbesian state of nature. Consequently, we cannot underestimate the power of philosophical reasoning.
Candidly, a philosophy graduate by his/her training is a wise being with a critical and more refined thinking faculty. Finding a vocation should not be a problem. Graduates of philosophy can actually work in any sector of the economy. From telecommunication to oil and gas, banking to advertising, administration to marketing, they can fit in. Indeed, it is not uncommon to see philosophy graduates earning a living as researchers, marketing communicators, public relations experts, human resources practitioners, broadcasters, administrators, political analysts, bankers and industrialists. This trend might not be unconnected with the fact that philosophy as a course of study is all-encompassing and is related in one way or the other to other course of study. This relation gives a philosopher the liberty of charting the course of career he/she so desires.
On a further note, graduates of philosophy with further postgraduate training can work as lecturers in our universities, polytechnics and colleges of education since philosophy is taught only at tertiary level. The realm of politicking is a natural turf for philosophers. Guided by wisdom, graduates of philosophy can effortless provide the right kind of leadership character which is in high demand in government and in the corporate circle. Aside from this, the training one receives as a student of philosophy empowers one to take up responsibilities and to effectively handle situations. It is however imperative to point out that (under)graduates of philosophy should not be carried away by the quest for white-collar jobs at the detriment of activities that they could derive joy, peace of mind, comfort and satisfaction from. Activities like painting, music, photography, writing, designing and engaging in charitable causes can actually become one's life-long engagement if pursued vigorously. Philosophically, the dignity of man lies in seeking for the truth, knowing the truth, preaching and protecting the truth. Biblically, the truth sets one free.
Nevertheless, the study of philosophy is aimed at developing knowledge, attributes, skills and competencies which will not only appeal to employers but will also be of unimaginable asset to us. We need not be reminded that the importance of our knowledge is in the influence it wields on others.
Having explored the challenges and prospects associated with the study of philosophy, we need to bear in mind that life itself is a basket full of challenges. Our ability to surmount these challenges makes us better persons. It is plausible to assert that the study of philosophy endows one with a kind of intellectual empowerment invaluable to the overall appraisal of situations and to decision making. Students of philosophy are trained to speak and act philosophically; to moralize, rationalize and reason critically as well as contribute effectively to the larger society.
However, we need to understand that there is no perfect system in the world. Even the so-called attractive and financially rewarding courses of study have their own peculiar problems just like philosophy. Yet, that is no excuse for philosophers not to rule their world.
I must not fail to add that, philosophy whether as an academic discipline or an intellectual activity contributes significantly to national development. Interestingly, the economy of the future is in the students of today. This appropriately explains why our foundation needs to be safeguarded. The objective of our educational system needs to be constantly reviewed to align with contemporary realities. We can only be better human being with philosophy as our guide. Wouldn't you rather study philosophy?
REFERENCE
1 Nwaorgu O.G.F. "Philosophy in Africa - Towards a pragmatic approach" in Essence (An International Journal of Philosophy) Journal of the Department of Philosophy, Lagos State University, Vol. I, No. 2, 1997. p. 48
2 Stephenson S. Smith, Robert W. Voorhees and William Morris (ed.), The New International Webster's Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language (Encyclopedic Edition) Trident Press International 2004. p. 949
3 Robert A. Bowie, Ethical Studies , Cheltenham; Nelson Thornes Limited, 2001. p. 5
4 Ozumba, G.O., A Course Text on Ethics, Lagos; Obaroh & Ogbinaka Publishers, 2001. p. 4
5 Irving Copi, Symbolic Logic, New York; Macmillian Publishing Co. In, 1979 Preface p. vii
6 Stephenson S. Smith, Op. Cit., p. 949
7 Craig Edward, Metaphysics. In E.Craig (Ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. London: Routledge, 1998. Retrieved July 05, 2010, from http:www.rep.routledge.com/article/N095
This partly explains why many students of philosophy at the undergraduate level are at sea about their future not to talk of the stark reality of the competitive nature of the labor market, which is biased towards management and science and technology courses. Obviously, (under)graduates of philosophy constantly ponder on what the future holds for them in the labor market.
Moreover, the world is yet to take cognizance of the importance of philosophy as a prominent contributor to its economy over the last centuries. Though, a number of countries in the last few decades have experienced dramatic changes as a result of the activities of graduates of philosophy who find themselves in the different sectors of the economy. Be it, banking, consulting, sales and marketing, communications, transportation, intelligence, construction, administration the list is endless. Candidly, their training in philosophy has sharpened their horizon and propelled them towards making a mark in a world that gives no room for laggards. Philosophy, in this wise, is a springboard to self-discovery and self-fulfillment. Some people, however, are still skeptical about the thought of philosophy putting food on their table. Why blame them? It is the environment in which they find themselves.
What is philosophy?
Obviously, the world is tired of mysteries; it longs for reality, and answers. What is reality? What is Truth? Where may it be found? And how may it be used? These are the questions an intelligent person asks, and he may find his answers in the study of philosophy. Philosophy is the impetus behind all the rational activities of man.
It is only absent when there are sufficient reasons to believe that members of any given human society are not rational.[1] Philosophy has its roots in the religion, myth as well as culture of a people. From the Western point of view, philosophy is etymologically derived from the Greek verb Philein meaning 'to love' and Sophia meaning 'wisdom'. In this context, philosophy is defined as the love of wisdom or to love wisdom. According to The New International Webster's Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language, philosophy is defined: the word love of wisdom as leading to the search for it; hence, knowledge of general principles- elements, powers, or causes and laws -as explaining facts and existence.[2]
Historically, Thales, Anaximander, and the like representing the Ionian School started the quest known today as 'philosophy' by wondering on the fundamental element(s) that constitute the universe around 600BC. From their cosmological speculations, Socrates and subsequent thinkers cum philosophers shifted attention to man's existential condition, socio-political structure and arrangement, the existence of God, nature of miracle, the concept of death among other issues of interest.
It is, however, instructive to note that thinkers, scholars, as well as opinion molders have given different definitions, coloration and conceptualization to what philosophy is. Underneath all these postulations, is the fact that philosophy deals with ideas, speculations and reflection. As human beings, we are endowed with a thinking faculty; a consciousness with which we generate ideas and reflect on them. Hence, the popular maxim 'ideas rule the world'. On this basis, we can reasonably assert that philosophy is the critical appraisal of the ideas we live by. These ideas pass through the mills of sound reasoning and at the end, our society is better off for it. By implication, the interest of philosophy cum philosophers is the test and critical evaluation of all that is and is to be.
What constitutes philosophy?
When we talk of constitutive elements of philosophy, we mean the core areas of philosophy. The traditional areas of philosophy - ethics, metaphysics, logic and epistemology are at the heart of the study of philosophy. It is instructive to note that recent areas of study such as Socio-Political Philosophy, Aesthetics, Ontology, Philosophy of Religion, Bio-Medical Ethics, Philosophy of Science, etc. have also emerged while new ones are still emerging. All these make up the curriculum of academic philosophy. Lets lake a brief insight into the core areas of philosophy:
Ethics: Writing on Ethics, Robert Bowie defines it as a branch of philosophy concerned with morality.[3] Ethics is one of the core areas of study in philosophy which deals with our moral conducts. It asks and seeks to answer questions such as: To what extent are we responsible for our actions? Why do we have to live a moral life? This aptly explains why Ethics as a branch of philosophy is also referred to as moral philosophy. Ethics deals with judgments as to the rightness or wrongness, virtuous or vicious, desirability or undesirability, approval or disapproval of our actions.[4] The essence of ethics is not just to produce a reasonable and virtuous man, but also to create a society where our actions are guided by best practices.
Logic: Logic, as a branch of philosophy, is aims at equipping us with the tools and techniques of correct reasoning. Logic deals with arguments and argument forms. We are able to distinguish good from bad arguments, valid from invalid arguments, and sound from unsound arguments. We regard Logic from two different points of view: on one hand, logic is an instrument or organon, for appraising the correctness of reasoning; on the other hand, the principles and methods of logic used as organon are interesting and important topics to be themselves systematically investigated.[5] Logic is a systematic study with laid down procedures and rule which must be adhered to, especially in proving validity. Logic is persuasive rather than forceful. Nonetheless, logic can be defined as an exact science of reasoning.
Epistemology: Epistemology is the branch of philosophy which investigates the bases and processes of cognition. What do we know? How do we know? Is our knowledge justifiable? What is knowledge? Nature and kinds of knowledge? Criteria of truth? Is there absolute truth and indubitable knowledge? These and many more are the concerns of epistemology. It investigates critically the nature, grounds, limits, and criteria, or validity, of human knowledge.[6] As the theory of knowledge, epistemology is principally concerned with the justification of our knowledge, it attempts to make the foundation of our knowledge firm against skepticism.
Metaphysics: In the realm of metaphysics, fundamental questions about our existence, reality and purpose are raised whilst answers are sought. Writing on metaphysics, Edward Craig (1998) asserts that metaphysics is a broad area of philosophy marked out by two types of inquiry. The first aims to be the most general investigation possible into the nature of reality: are there principles applying to everything that is real, to all that is?... the second type of inquiry seeks to uncover what is ultimately real, frequently offering answers in sharp contrast to our everyday experience of the world.[7]
Challenges of studying philosophy
Among the numerous challenges facing the study of philosophy is the lack of proper and adequate knowledge of what philosophy means. Many people take philosophy to mean different things. To some, it is an intellectual activity. Some sees it as purely an academic engagement. To others, it poses a threat to their religious beliefs. The nature of the course itself does not help matters. Philosophy tends to be studied in its abstractness. Studying philosophy in its abstract nature is like studying in isolation, which is nothing but a mere mental exercise which does not align with global realities. Moreover, the study of philosophy is faced with a crisis of acceptability and relevance in a country like Nigeria. Students of philosophy have to contend with the relevance of their course of study in a society which purposely funds and supports studies into management, law, medicine, science and technology-related courses while paying little or no attention to courses in humanities such as philosophy.
In a related development, the study of philosophy is regarded by a large number of people as a journey into uncertainty. This is might be because there is no ready market for its graduates. It is crystal clear that the chances of getting a job after graduation are very slim for students studying philosophy considering the fact that most people erroneously confuse philosophy for an abstract discipline. Moreover, holders of degrees in professional courses such as law, Finance, Accounting, Banking, Economics, Medicine, and the like are in hot demand thus leaving the crumbs for graduates of other courses like philosophy. Discrimination is another problem one has to contend with even when you are lucky enough to get a job. Graduates and students of Medicine, Law and Engineering among others are treated as 'specials' at the work place. Suffice to say, therefore, that students who study philosophy will be treated indifferently.
A look at our education system in Nigeria shows an urgent need for constant a review and updating of our school curricula. Training and re-training of our academia should be of paramount importance. All these are in a bid to enrich our academic content as well as produce qualitative graduates who are job creators and not job seekers. Sadly enough, we parade a demoralized manpower based in our various institutions of higher learning. Many lecturers lack sincerity of purpose and passion for the teaching job.
They constitute a clog in the wheel of success of many promising students. Worst still, some of those who even teach philosophy are neither philosophy majors nor have a full grasp of what the discipline entails as well as the current trends aside the academic world. Hence, many of them force their frustrations, prejudices, biases and ill-conceived ideas on students thus inhibiting their student's capacity to explore, be creative and think critically.
It is also noteworthy to point out that there is no proper induction and orientation program for new intakes in most Nigerian universities save for the efforts of students bodies such as the National Association of Philosophy Students, Lagos State University. Departments of philosophy need not leave orientation programs to the students' bodies alone but be practically involved in its planning and implementation. This is premised on the fact that for us to produce qualitative graduates with sound minds, who can compete globally, there is the need for proper mentoring and monitoring of students academically and otherwise. Adequate academic manpower to sustain the system is also lacking.
On a further note, many parents view philosophy is a no go area. To them, studying philosophy is not financially rewarding hence they discourage their wards from venturing into it. This is aside peers influence and societal demands. Prospective students choose philosophy as a second choice or a course of last resort. Such is the fate of philosophy that prides itself as the mother of all disciplines. Come to think of it, the stone rejected by the builder can become the cornerstone.
Our Alumni base is nothing to write home about. There is no system in place to monitor the progress of graduates of the discipline; to know how they are faring as well as the challenges they face in the various sectors of the economy where they eke out a living. In fact, an Alumni association is a veritable source of funding researches and sustaining programs in our universities. Apart from funding, the town and gown needs to constantly rub minds and share experiences which will in turn make the study of philosophy not only interesting but also worthwhile.
Prospects of studying of philosophy
The skepticism towards the study of philosophy is usually in seeing no relevance in the course; it's considered a waste of precious time. Positions such as these, in essence, are the premises upon which people ask the question: why study philosophy?
Philosophy, as an academic discipline, is not just abstract; it is also theoretical. The theories are interesting and are meant to acquaint students with philosophic insights. Such insights are essential in such a fast-paced, slippery, dynamic, demanding and challenging environment we live. As philosophers, we are better positioned to appreciate the problems of our environment and proffer solutions to them, thereby becoming agents of change either in the religious, cultural, economic or socio-political sphere.
I vividly remember with nostalgia, for instance, my tenure as the president of the body of student philosophers in Lagos State University, Nigeria. I marshaled all resources at my disposal towards initiating programs that would ignite the passion for academic excellence whilst also preparing my constituency for life after the study of philosophy. My conviction for such calculated effort is based on my belief that 'the art of critical thinking is a fundamental disposition which ought to be developed in man.' Moreover, it is obvious that we presently live at the mercy at science and its technological spin off. Without ethical considerations, we might find ourselves in an anarchist society, a Hobbesian state of nature. Consequently, we cannot underestimate the power of philosophical reasoning.
Candidly, a philosophy graduate by his/her training is a wise being with a critical and more refined thinking faculty. Finding a vocation should not be a problem. Graduates of philosophy can actually work in any sector of the economy. From telecommunication to oil and gas, banking to advertising, administration to marketing, they can fit in. Indeed, it is not uncommon to see philosophy graduates earning a living as researchers, marketing communicators, public relations experts, human resources practitioners, broadcasters, administrators, political analysts, bankers and industrialists. This trend might not be unconnected with the fact that philosophy as a course of study is all-encompassing and is related in one way or the other to other course of study. This relation gives a philosopher the liberty of charting the course of career he/she so desires.
On a further note, graduates of philosophy with further postgraduate training can work as lecturers in our universities, polytechnics and colleges of education since philosophy is taught only at tertiary level. The realm of politicking is a natural turf for philosophers. Guided by wisdom, graduates of philosophy can effortless provide the right kind of leadership character which is in high demand in government and in the corporate circle. Aside from this, the training one receives as a student of philosophy empowers one to take up responsibilities and to effectively handle situations. It is however imperative to point out that (under)graduates of philosophy should not be carried away by the quest for white-collar jobs at the detriment of activities that they could derive joy, peace of mind, comfort and satisfaction from. Activities like painting, music, photography, writing, designing and engaging in charitable causes can actually become one's life-long engagement if pursued vigorously. Philosophically, the dignity of man lies in seeking for the truth, knowing the truth, preaching and protecting the truth. Biblically, the truth sets one free.
Nevertheless, the study of philosophy is aimed at developing knowledge, attributes, skills and competencies which will not only appeal to employers but will also be of unimaginable asset to us. We need not be reminded that the importance of our knowledge is in the influence it wields on others.
Having explored the challenges and prospects associated with the study of philosophy, we need to bear in mind that life itself is a basket full of challenges. Our ability to surmount these challenges makes us better persons. It is plausible to assert that the study of philosophy endows one with a kind of intellectual empowerment invaluable to the overall appraisal of situations and to decision making. Students of philosophy are trained to speak and act philosophically; to moralize, rationalize and reason critically as well as contribute effectively to the larger society.
However, we need to understand that there is no perfect system in the world. Even the so-called attractive and financially rewarding courses of study have their own peculiar problems just like philosophy. Yet, that is no excuse for philosophers not to rule their world.
I must not fail to add that, philosophy whether as an academic discipline or an intellectual activity contributes significantly to national development. Interestingly, the economy of the future is in the students of today. This appropriately explains why our foundation needs to be safeguarded. The objective of our educational system needs to be constantly reviewed to align with contemporary realities. We can only be better human being with philosophy as our guide. Wouldn't you rather study philosophy?
REFERENCE
1 Nwaorgu O.G.F. "Philosophy in Africa - Towards a pragmatic approach" in Essence (An International Journal of Philosophy) Journal of the Department of Philosophy, Lagos State University, Vol. I, No. 2, 1997. p. 48
2 Stephenson S. Smith, Robert W. Voorhees and William Morris (ed.), The New International Webster's Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language (Encyclopedic Edition) Trident Press International 2004. p. 949
3 Robert A. Bowie, Ethical Studies , Cheltenham; Nelson Thornes Limited, 2001. p. 5
4 Ozumba, G.O., A Course Text on Ethics, Lagos; Obaroh & Ogbinaka Publishers, 2001. p. 4
5 Irving Copi, Symbolic Logic, New York; Macmillian Publishing Co. In, 1979 Preface p. vii
6 Stephenson S. Smith, Op. Cit., p. 949
7 Craig Edward, Metaphysics. In E.Craig (Ed.), Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. London: Routledge, 1998. Retrieved July 05, 2010, from http:www.rep.routledge.com/article/N095
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