[Accecyncphory]

You have NO IDEA of the level of competition you're talking about.

I do. You do not seem to realize that in that respect philosophy is comparable to physics - only a handful of geniuses write stuff that matters. The rest just teach it.

I know for instance a friend who's doing really well in electrical engineering, and I was better than him at math in High School. There is some potential, but it would involve lots of hard work to be recovered, and yes the gamble is rather immense (I tend to shoot for large things).

The point is that I am most likely going back to philosophy, I'm just saying that I want to be working as if I was shooting for it.

[2swasseneons]

I know for instance a friend who's doing really well in electrical engineering, and I was better than him at math in High School.

OMFG

You're basing your comparison on somebody doing ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING given how well you did in HIGH SCHOOL MATH?

EDIT: this is a joke, right?

What do you propose to evaluate the case then?

I'm just pointing out that I used to be really good at math (and I mean compared to a lot of people who are now scientists), so at least there must be some kind of potential.

The worst thing that can happen is that I get a basic understanding of contemporary science, which can't hurt.

[Patabeamn]

What do you propose to evaluate the case then?

I'm just pointing out that I used to be really good at math (and I mean compared to a lot of people who are now scientists), so at least there must be some kind of potential.

The worst thing that can happen is that I get a basic understanding of contemporary science, which can't hurt.

"Scientist" is not the same as "physicist" or "mathematician".

Seriously, what's the most advanced math you remember?

[shieclulaweew]

you studied philosophy and haven't figured it out yet?

[Immarsecice]

Rah, don't bother trying to convince Asher that liberal arts have value to the outside world. Asher's convinced that actually learning how to structure an argument is the devil.

Ben is the perfect example. He can't even ****ing read. Look at this.

He got a BA degree. That's how useful they are. EVEN BEN GOT ONE.

You don't need to study philosophy to learn how to structure an argument. You just need to have an analytical mind and a dose of common sense, which is precisely why we've never seen a real argument out of you.

[vforvandetta]

Ben is the perfect example. He can't even ****ing read. Meaning, I don't regurgitate the snippets which I picked up along the way while reading the odd computer manual in 4 years of university while attempting to pass myself off as knowledgeable about the value of an education.

He got a BA degree. That's how useful they are. EVEN BEN GOT ONE. Yes, I did. Worked hard for it too. That you belittle a liberal arts education is proof that your university failed you. If you want to learn a trade, go to trade school. If you want to get an education, go to university.

Do you sincerely believe that the only value that a subject has to offer society has to do with remuneration?

[Polopolop]

Rah, don't bother trying to convince Asher that liberal arts have value to the outside world. Asher's convinced that actually learning how to structure an argument is the devil.

I'm sorry to say but unless you really, really have a passion to teach the subject you are majoring in, liberal arts degrees are pretty useless. At least with some liberal arts subjects like, English and History, you can go on to become a teacher but with something like philosophy, you are very limited in your options.

I don't think I learned anything that couldn't have been read in a book when I majored in history. If I could go back in time, I would have definitely dropped it in favor of something else like transferring to a uni that offered entomology as a major instead of only a minor. Though I'm not exactly sure how much more marketable entomology is. In fact, I probably should've put off college for a few years since I really had no idea what I wanted to do when I started.

I won't say it was the same case for Architecture since its not entirely a liberal arts field but it does require a lot of intensive and detailed work for mediocre pay.

[EvaQWmrm]

The only reason I was working for a BA in poly-sci was because I was planing on going to law school but end up deciding that computers was where I wanted to make a living.
(I had previously spent a couple of years studying computer engineering. Which meant something completely different back in the early 70's )

[maxfieldj1]

If only dogs were people.

JM

[nuveem7070]

That just blew my mind.

[tarmpriopay]

That just blew my mind.

If only dogs could blow people.

[wheettebott]

Doesn't he work as a clerk at a grocery store or something?

[Forex Trading Software]

Answer the question Asher. I'll be happy to answer yours if you answer mine.

Do you sincerely believe that the only value that a subject has to offer society has to do with remuneration? Yes or no?

[Keyblctt]

That's a rather odd way of looking at things. The whole reason you have books is because someone decided there was an idea worth preserving. History is all about books. No books, no history.

It isn't just about books but analysis of historical events and looking at the greater picture over long periods of time.

That's not the point I'm making though. If someone has a passion for history you don't need a teacher or a degree. You could very well study history at your own accord and if your bold enough, you could write your own book. Some of the best historical works are done by amateurs. John Julius Norwich never even bothered learning history in school, yet he managed to write the premiere work on Byzantine history.

Unfortunately, a History degree itself has very limited use in most fields of work, and is only needed if you need a piece of paper to teach in public schools or possibly as a precursor to law school.

[CibQueersejer]

Not quite.

I was contracted to assist in building an online store for a religious goods/health food store/pharmacy called Ave Maria. I compiled all the product information they had, researched and wrote new stuff for what they didn't already have, found pictures or took them for everything. I also developed a new inventory database for them at the same time, because their older version was rather confused and patchwork, one that could be used both for the online store and for their current system so that the two would be coordinated.

This is **** you'd hire high school students to do...

[Kristoferson]

This is **** you'd hire high school students to do... Oh, right. Having them write stuff on pharmaceuticals where if it's wrong, you could kill someone? Call me when you hitch a ride on the clue train.

[2swasseneons]

If a subject is to be publicly subsidized in any way, shape, or form then it does need to contribute back to society in a meaningful way. So you honestly think without public subsidy there would be no history, not art, no music, etc? Public subsidy benefits engineers and science folks, just as much as it benefits arts students. Who do you think pays for your labs at the universities? Science students receive far more in public subsidies, since most arts programs only require a book, a desk, blackboard and a wastepaper basket to throw away paper.

Science did nothing for thousands of years until the governments of europe began to engage in public subsidy of their pursuits. Look at Tycho and the island of Hveen? Do you think he would have been as successful, if he did not have a patron?

When you have fields like Philosophy -- which by and large are only used by pretentious douchebags who find it personally interesting, it's not of any value. There's only one pretentious douchebag here, and that's you. The whole concept that the value of a subject is afflicted by public subsidy, well that's a Randian for you. I am not a Randian. But then I think you believe you devise that philosophy yourself?

The idea that we need philosophers for guidance on ethics is horseshit. The idea that we need philosophers to tell us how to construct arguments is even more horseshit. The fact that you rely on a philosopher well known for her book which was not publicly subsidised for the ideas you charge against philosophy, is hilarious. What do you think Rand was? She wasn't a computer scientist.

Philosophy is Thinking 101. The problem is you can't teach thinking, even though philosophy tries. This is why Philosophy degrees are the most worthless of all -- it doesn't tell you anything about the person. If somebody does a math degree, at least you can have faith in their analytical abilities to do other things. If somebody has a philosophy degree, all it tells you is they were immensely stupid in picking a major. I would hire a philosophy major. Idea people are always valuable.