Enlarge image
Mastering the thinker pose is not a prerequisite for studying philosophy.
(icon picture)
Photo: Panagiotis Maravelis / iStockphoto / Getty Images
»What can I know, what should I do, what can I hope?« was the question asked by one of the most famous German philosophers: Immanuel Kant. The study of philosophy also revolves around the really big questions of our existence. Ethical problems are discussed, self-evident truths are doubted and approaches to action discussed. Does that make you a »philosopher«? And what career opportunities are there?
Maria Fasbender, 25, is studying philosophy for a master's degree at the Freie Universität Berlin. She explains whether you can find answers in your studies and why she would like more female voices in her subject.
The decision to study philosophy
»There is not one reason that brought me to study philosophy.
It is true that I noticed early on how much I was concerned with certain questions.
But it was only in hindsight that I learned that philosophy deals with these questions.
It was certainly a factor that my parents both studied the same thing, so we always had philosophy books at home that I understood absolutely nothing about.
I picked it up and thought to myself: It would be interesting to know what's in there.
I ended up taking a short philosophy class at school when I was about 16.
From then on it was actually decided.
Immediately after graduating from high school, I went to Heidelberg and did my bachelor's degree there.
The town is relatively small, but that wasn't bad for a start.
So you could concentrate more on the university.
I first went to Munich and then to Berlin for my master's degree.
Content and structure of the course
»Sometimes during our studies we did exactly what I had imagined: reading and writing texts.
It is a very intensive subject because you deal with many important questions.
I was a little disappointed that you don't get answers, instead you learn that every question opens up thousands of other questions.
Six semesters is also not much time.
At the end of the bachelor's degree you realize what a tiny part of the philosophy you have only grasped.
You never really get done.
As a rule, there are only a few compulsory courses. In Heidelberg, for example, I only had to attend an 'Introduction to Philosophy' lecture and a logic lecture.
In addition, there were six areas from which seminars could be freely selected.
I see it as an advantage that the course is so openly structured.
I think many of us would have wished for more support at the beginning.
Sometimes you stumble into seminars completely disoriented, without knowing what it is actually about and what to expect.
In the beginning it was also difficult for me to register for events at all.
The seminars are attended by students from the first to the sixth semester, which unsettled me.
I don't think I said anything for the first year and a half.
I would do that differently today.
I was also put off by the fact that theoretical philosophy in Heidelberg was very male-dominated.
It's a little better in Berlin.
It can be difficult for female students to get into a university where almost all the chairs are occupied by men.
There are no role models.
In addition, there is this male-dominated genius idea.
This is precisely why philosophy needs new female voices.
I would advise freshmen, regardless of gender, not to be afraid – neither to register for seminars nor to read classic texts.
Setting up reading groups and practicing philosophizing with friends outside of your studies can help.
You don't have to know how to write right from the start.
It's a craft that you learn over time.
The more you read, the more likely you will find your own style.
Most exams in the course are homework.
There are hardly any tests that can only be repeated to a limited extent.
Depending on the seminar, the effort is different.
If you choose your courses accordingly, you could also get through without investing much time.
But that doesn't make much sense - nobody studies philosophy for a degree.«
Career prospects after graduation
more on the subject
How to change direction in your studies: Different Master, no disasterBy Anne Baum
“Unfortunately, you always hear how little you can do with a degree in philosophy.
That wasn't a problem for me during my bachelor's degree - I always knew that I would continue with my master's afterwards.
In the last few semesters, however, the shock came: Actually, I don't know what's coming next.
I am currently writing my master's thesis on Hegel's concept of knowledge and am toying with the idea of doing a doctorate.
But I would rather do that for myself and not with the fixed goal of staying in science.
The more I get to know about the working conditions, the less I see universities as a pleasant employer.
Many add another degree to the philosophy degree or gain practical experience at the same time.
This gives you a good chance of gaining a foothold in all sorts of areas.
Ultimately, the ability to think critically and analytically is needed everywhere.«
