A philosophy degree offers more than just an exploration of life’s big questions — it equips students with critical thinking and communication skills that are valuable in virtually any profession. At Rice University, the Department of Philosophy challenges students to think deeply about truth, justice and existence while preparing them for real-world challenges.
“Philosophy is a sort of catch-all discipline in that it helps you ask questions and think clearly about ideas that crop up in almost every study or area of life,” said Robert Howell, professor and chair of philosophy.
Philosophy encourages students to analyze complex problems and express their thoughts clearly. This process is not limited to abstract concepts; it extends to practical applications across various fields.
“Our main concern is to essentially recognize that a lot of the common sense things that we believe contain within them puzzles that need resolution,” Howell said.
The skills gained through studying philosophy — such as critical thinking, problem-solving and ethical reasoning — apply to a wide array of professions. Philosophy majors often pursue careers in law, finance, medicine, public policy and business.
“Philosophy majors or people coming out of philosophy classes learn how to write in an extremely clear way, allowing them to articulate arguments and criticize arguments,” Howell said. “Being able to spot a question that needs to be asked and being able to ask it in an articulate way, there’s no discipline where that’s not valuable.”
Studying philosophy can be likened to mental training. Howell describes it as “a gymnasium for the mind,” where students build intellectual muscles through rigorous analysis of long-standing philosophical problems. This training prepares them to tackle real-world issues with clarity and precision.
“Philosophy provides you with the opportunity to be valuable to a very wide domain of areas,” Howell said.
