南洋理工大学

The word “philosophy” originates from the Greek word φιλοσοφία (philosophia). Literally, "philosophy" means "love of wisdom": “philo” means to love, and “sophia” means wisdom.

As an academic discipline, philosophy is concerned with the study of fundamental problems, such as those about the nature of knowledge, reality, existence, mind, language, science, and morality. It involves the broad and systematic critical questioning of the foundations underlying other disciplines.

Some typical questions philosophers ask are:

• What kind of world do we live in?
• Is there a God?
• Is there an external world?
• What kind of life should we live?
• Do human beings act freely?
• Where do moral obligations come from?
• How do we construct a just society?
• Where does knowledge come from and what are the limitations of our knowledge?

Philosophers are often concerned with specific questions that have direct applications in other fields:

• Do the results of quantum mechanics force us to view our relations to objects differently?
• Do animals have rights?
• What is the justification for using military force?
• Is euthanasia morally wrong?
• What kind of research ethics should medical professionals observe in their research?

Career Prospects

The unique perspective that philosophy offers makes its students potentially fit for any profession.

Philosophy trains its students to question fundamental assumptions, argue logically, and think through issues as comprehensively as possible. In this way, philosophy shapes the way we think and act. It also heightens our sensitivity towards the nuances of life, and enhances our ability to engage with them. The study of philosophy typically cultivates the following abilities:

• Ask good questions, think independently, critically, and clearly
• Uncover and examine hidden assumptions
• Analyse and critically assess arguments
• Formulate consistent, coherent, and complex arguments
• Conceptualise and articulate difficult issues or abstract ideas
• Examine and justify what we believe in or/and what we do

These skills are extremely useful in a broad range of disciplines such as anthropology, biology, business administration, computer science, history, law, literature, media, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, and sociology. Many philosophy students have benefited from concurrently pursuing another degree in the above disciplines.