Ethics and philosophy in college. what should i expect?

Question

i know very little about this course and i'd love some tips on how to have a better understanding of the subject or any studying tips, anything!

Answer 1

From a college perspective?  Well... I've taken four philosophy courses, two of them forms of ethics.  A well-taught ethics class brings people together more than any other type of class I've seen.  Probably it has something to do with building empathy from seeing how your classmates value certain things and make decisions of right from wrong.

In terms of the subject itself, ethics is maybe the most important of philosophies.  It's about nothing less than how we ought to live our lives--and it helps you deal with or accept threats to the idea that we're bound to an objective morality, that we should do anything at all.

Study-wise, just make sure to have an open mind and consider each side of a scenario.  Discussions don't have to be particularly serious.  At some point you'll probably be given some introduction to logic; that you should take seriously.  Logic is like a set of 3-D glasses that will enhance what you're studying and allow you to interact with it.  So look into that and maybe annotate readings if you find them complex (especially if you read any direct translations of Kant.  omg... not to mention the fact that it's from German, you get to the end of a sentence and forget what it was about =P).

So, yeah.  Have fun and good luck in school! :)

Answer 2

Seek truth which is the basis of science and philosophy, presenting the intellectual foundation of religion. Beauty sponsors art, music, and the meaningful rhythms of all human experience. Goodness embraces the sense of ethics, morality, and religion--experiential perfection-hunger. Be a truth seeker and try for personal perfection, by doing your very best in all that you do.

Answer 3

The thing about philosophy is that it's not enough just to read or study - you also have to think critically about what you're studying.  When you're studying don't try to cram as much information into your head as you can (as you might with other subjects).  Instead, work on understanding the theories or arguments you are studying.  If you're struggling to follow the material in the notes or readings you've been given, try looking up the topic somewhere else - library books, the internet, whatever - because sometimes if you can't understand something the first time it's taught to you it makes more sense when someone else explains it in a different way.  Then once you understand what you're studying, look at it critically.  Think about its merits and flaws.  Think about objections that can be raised against the argument, and if you can, try to think of how one could respond to those objections.  Philosophy is all about arguments: they need to be logical and well supported.  Strive always to avoid making any assumptions that you can't defend - and if ever you have to make an assumption, make sure that it is a reasonable one and make it obvious that you are making that assumption.  When you write your papers, write very clearly and structure them so that it's easy to follow your argument.  Don't try to bluff with a lot of big words and don't try to sound "profound" - you will just end up coming across as pretentious and ignorant.  When you are studying for an exam, try to see how everything you've learnt about a particular topic fits together, and make sure you understand the arguments for and against a theory before you write the exam so that you don't have to try to figure it out when you're already in there.

I hope this helps...you're welcome to email me if you have any more questions.

Answer 4

Google the college of your choice, click on the philosophy department, and read the bios of the professors, what they teach, and what the curriculum is. If you have more specific questions, you should be able to email that department for the information.

This way you can check out all the colleges that may be on your wish list, get to know the profs, stay on the website and check out the rest of the campus life, etc.

Answer 5

Like any other course offered by a college, you must allot the proper amount of time to understand the material presented.

Things you should expect:

1. Abstract thought.

2. Lengthy, often times absurd discussions about the ideological postulates made by prominent philosophers in regards to ethics.

3. s****. students with ridiculously high egos and professors who believe they can define existence in a single sentence.

4. Dependence on the textbook. Everything there is to know about philosophy or, at least in regards to your course can be found in the textbooks provided.

As a result of the class, things you can expect:

1. Clarity in reasoning skills.

2. A liking towards abstract thought or, 'thinking outside the box'.

3. Highly critical of others and what they believe, where you will subsequently try to bestow your 'newly found wisdom' upon people.

4. After several years, feelings of insecurity and intellectual deficiency will creep up on you. You will have broken thoughts and sleepless nights, always wondering why you can't articulate better, but always knowing it's because you can't. It's because you're mediocre and the philosophy class, for a brief moment, made you feel superior to those around you without you being aware of it.