In January of 2023, I applied for a spot in Kings’ BA Philosophy & Modern Languages course, not out of some deep-seated passion for philosophy, but simply because I liked reading, writing, and critical thinking. As such, I wanted to join a programme that would allow me to indulge in those interests whilst gaining valuable skills to prepare me for the workforce or post-graduate study. Having completed nearly half of my degree, I can say with confidence that this course has certainly satisfied my intellectual appetite.
Here’s why it can do the same for you!
From strengthening my analytical reasoning skills in Elementary Logic to expanding my knowledge on ancient feminist thinking in Women Thinkers in Antiquity, this course has already provided me with such a unique combination of knowledge and repertoire of skills that I’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. The large catalogue of courses offered by the philosophy department grants everyone an opportunity to design a course load that either branches out into a niche area of philosophy or encapsulates a wide range of topics. The choice is yours!
Moreover, if you’re someone who doesn’t like the idea of having to commit the next 3-4 years of your life to studying one subject/course, you’re in luck because within this programme, you really don’t have to. Thanks to the diverse module selection that was available to me, I now get to go from being a political science student on Mondays to a history student on Wednesdays, and finally to being a linguist on Fridays. Political philosophy and the philosophy of language are two very different subject areas, but getting to take them both simultaneously is a highly enriching and broadening experience.
Many people who value career opportunities don’t see philosophy as a particularly ‘practical’ degree, and therefore tend to avoid it when selecting a course. This, I believe, is an outdated stigma affecting not just philosophy, but the humanities as a whole — for there are numerous benefits of studying a degree centered around critical thinking, reasoning, and argumentation. You get to learn the ins-and-outs of succinctly organising your thoughts into a cohesive argument, the fundamentals of research, effective communication, and so much more. Regardless of whether you’d like to go into a more business-savvy field like consulting or instead pursue something research-intensive like academia, studying philosophy at King’s is bound to grant you the versatility you need to succeed far beyond your uni years.
So, if you’re someone who wants to keep your options open, desires flexibility, or simply likes to be surprised, then you’ve found your course!