What should I do after M.A. Philosophy?

[KrazyHorse]

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?

[Jon Miller]

The most likely good thing that can happen is that I get a basic understanding of contemporary science, which would be great.

Fixed it for you.

JM

[germanos]

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

[Ben Kenobi]

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.

[Asher]

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.

[rah]

A few simple logic tests are all I need to determine if a person can be trained to be a programmer.

And I have a poly sci degree, but at least it was a BS and not a BA.
I'm still a good programmer even though I manage more than I do these days.

[Ben Kenobi]

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?

[Jon Miller]

You wouldn't even come close to getting a faculty position. I'm not kidding you. Unless you have some sort of genius that you've simply never tapped into (Ed Witten), you will, from what I've seen, at best be a mediocre undergrad.

at a 25 year-old MA philosophy student trying to get a faculty position in physics

It seems like particle astrophysics has more faculty positions than mid-energy nuclear physics.

When I started graduate school there was a philosophy PhD student who had a physics minor (or even major). He started going to some physics classes... but quit after a short while.

JM

[Riesstiu IV]

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.

[Wiglaf]

Asher's convinced that actually learning how to structure an argument is the devil.

Is the implication that a BA helps you structure an argument? I got a degree in government and five seconds of law school taught me more about arguments than anything I did in undergrad, except for that one time I convinced a chick to do anal freshman year, which is way too early to be doing anal, what is she, some kind of slut?

[rah]

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 )

[Japher]

You could always write a witty book about how you wasted a bunch of money studying a worthless degree, but how it was all worthwhile because you got to get to know your best friend; a dog. The dog can be really bad, and there can be lots of antics about how you get in trouble because of the dog's behavior. Then, at the end the do will die and we will all be sad, despite the dog having been a terror it's whole life. People like dogs.

[Jon Miller]

If only dogs were people.

JM

[KrazyHorse]

If only people were dogs

[Japher]

That just blew my mind.