Though at first glance philosophy may not seem to play much of a role in modern life, truly its omnipresence is akin to that of computers. Though you may not see them at any given moment through out your daily life, once one stops to think about it, computers are there every step of the way. To that end, one may choose to ignore the modern descendants of Conrad Zuse's invention at their own peril. Though your psychology friend may choose to ignore the ubiquity of philosophy, it is there and he may practice it too one day when weighing a moral quandary.
Let us imagine a man who views computers in the same light as your friend views philosophy - i.e. a nonessential part of modern life. I choose computers and close electronic relatives for this example because such a claim is a prominently ludicrous one to make. Anyone who has studied philosophy or who opens their mind and eyes to the world would consider similar claims pertaining to philosophy as equally ignorant or fantastic.
Your friend views philosophy to be a frivolous pursuit, unconnected to virtually any aspect of modern life. In a similar fashion, one may choose to ignore the axiomatic truth that modern life would not be possible without the smattering of silicon and circuitry we use to download free porn, control our power plants and run our cars, your friend may choose to ignore the philosophy in front of him, though to simply ignore a thing does not serve to change the truth of the matter. A man may choose to ignore the battery of binary boxes which run his life at the expense of leaving himself a bit helpless when in need of one of these computational contraptions or he may simply live under a self imposed delusion that refusal to partake in silicon centered lifestyle proves their frivolity.
Though our fictional man may refrain from owning any computer containing appliances or furnishings in his own home or office, his home will likely contain an RFID tag or two used to deter theft from the local grocer or clothing store. Each time he cashes out at a store, a computer will electronically keep track of the items purchased or left in stock. If he feels a need to own a savings club card, his purchase history may be logged, if he owns a credit card, his credit history and anything purchased using credit will be logged on a server somewhere. If this man also believes in banks, all his funds will be stored electronically as well. Not to mention the fact that virtually all consumer products are manufactured, inspected, packed and shipped using computers in varying multitudes of integration, from fully automated systems to simply tracking shipment departures and arrivals. Living a modern life necessarily entails support of a system which relies heavily on computers, whether used personally or not.
I believe your friend is akin to this mythical anti-computer character. Philosophy is behind our moral decisions, convictions and any system of morality. A mans' decision about what is ethically or morally correct to do cannot but be inexorably bound up in a spirit of philosophy, inasmuch as a major branch of philosophy includes morality. Moral philosophy is essentially concerned with what is good and what one should do in any given situation. Do we not weigh various outcomes when deciding to help another person in need or when deciding to mete out punishment (be it in the courts or street justice)? To that end, am I morally required to stop a crime from being committed if I see it happening? What if I am friends with the perpetrator and am privy to the crime he intends to commit? Does it matter how much effort I must exert in order to prevent the crime? These are all weighted moral questions that have no clear or easy answer, which is where moral philosophy and philosophy of action come into play.
This is just one example of one are where philosophy plays a role, but there are many more; constitutional law – what did the founding fathers mean or intend and does it even matter today?; medicine – should a healthcare system be reactive or proactive, should medicine treat a whole person or each part individually? Again, such issues are going to take a great deal of research, moral inquiry and will involve metaphysical and epistemological considerations. A psychology student especially should have some insight into the utility of philosophy, as his own discipline is not but an off shoot of philosophy, though I suppose if he had never taken the time to take a class on metapsychology (philosophy of mind) or delve into the subject on his own this irony would be lost on him. Just as the man who endeavors to live his life without computers emphatically insists that he has accomplished his goal, has only succeeded in deceiving himself, blinding himself to the truth that his life is indeed connected with and does himself utilize and benefit from computers on a daily basis.
Living a life of blissful ignorance of the philosophy in the world is equally as detrimental as living a life in denial of the obvious ubiquity of computers. Acknowledging the value and pervasiveness of both can make your life much easier and open your understanding to the world around you. To underwrite philosophy is to underestimate many a great mind and a discipline which helps to hone great written and oral communication, critical thinking, and creativity. To study philosophy is to study not just ideas and axioms set down hundreds or thousands of years ago, e.g. Zeno’s principles, Plato’s Republic or Aristotle’s Politics, but also the art of analyzing arguments; an invaluable skill to have in a world of bombastic broadcasts trying sell us goods and ideas we don't need.
The ability to critically analyze a complex argument or craft one are skills that will never be obsolete. No, I do not believe Harvard or Yale, Cambridge or Oxford will be eliminating their philosophy departments any time soon, deeming it to be a useless discipline. This economy is just another opportunity to prove why philosophy has been around for thousands of years and is not going anywhere any time soon.
Philosophy teaches us about word choice, argument presentation and composition. These are the skill required when seeking employment, as your resume must convey why you are suited to the position and your interview(s) must reinforce this idea. The most persuasive and eloquent of applicants will undoubtedly stand out against a backdrop of innumerable fellow applicants. Employers seeking those with excellent writing, problem solving and the ability to think critically through difficult problems need look no further than a philosophy major. Since these skills are applicable in a wide variety of fields, one need only correctly market said skills and experience properly to secure a job in said field.
Philosophy is indeed a part of everyday life, from our laws to our Constitution. When you open your eyes to the philosophy around you, you are able to see the world more completely; whether it's the politicians or talking heads on the news everyday who use faulty logic to sway your opinion or commercials trying to sell some piece of crap you do not need. When you recognize the philosophy and analyze it for what it is, you are more aware. When you consider your moral decisions and obligations and reevaluate them, you are practicing philosophy and you are bettering your understanding of yourself as well as the world around you. You just may find there are some unexamined values or ideas you have absentmindedly been sustaining even though they are incongruous with the rest of your life. Simply be aware of the philosophy around you and embrace it, as it can only help you to make better decisions and perhaps better understand the decisions of others as well.
(P.S.I wonder if your psychology friend would have recognized the bit about Ivy leagues as the logical fallacy of appeal to authority.)
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