As I write, the most emailed artiÂcle from today’s New York Times is this piece, which talks about the revival of phiÂlosÂoÂphy on AmerÂiÂcan colÂlege camÂpusÂes. The reaÂsons for this revival are varÂied — Some see phiÂlosÂoÂphy offerÂing “good trainÂing for lookÂing at largÂer sociÂetal quesÂtions, like globÂalÂizaÂtion and techÂnolÂoÂgy.” OthÂers see it buildÂing skills valÂued by law schools (arguÂmenÂtaÂtion and reaÂsonÂing). Still othÂers believe that phiÂlosÂoÂphy and exisÂtenÂtial angst can be good for “good for getÂting girlÂfriends.” MeanÂwhile, all seem to agree that philoÂsophÂiÂcal thinkÂing is not simÂply for “frou-frou” intelÂlecÂtuÂals. The net result: the numÂber of phiÂlosÂoÂphy majors is up, with some schools seeÂing increasÂes of 50–100% over the past 5–6 years.
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