This past weekend, we celebrated with graduating Philosophy Majors, Minors, and their families and friends. We are so incredibly proud of this group of graduates; they began college during the pandemic, are so talented, and have shown so much growth and enthusiasm over their years at Puget Sound! We look forward to following your journey after Puget Sound!
The Philosophy Department had a chance to celebrate a great group of philosophy majors this past weekend. Echoing her words at the reception for graduates and their guests, Prof. Ariela Tubert, chair of the department, said:
This is a very special group of graduates that Philosophy Faculty and fellow students will miss a lot. Academically, as a group, they are among the, if not the, strongest graduating class of philosophy majors in recent memory. But they were also instrumental in rebuilding the philosophy community on campus after over a year of remote learning due to Covid. In these past two years back on campus, they became a close knit group and their enthusiasm and camaraderie was felt in and out of the classroom.
Several of them were active in ethics bowl both in spring and fall 2022, with the team making it to the semi-finals in fall 2022. They were also active in organizing the 2023 Puget Sound Undergraduate Conference, presented their work at Pacific University’s Undergraduate Conference, conducted summer research, took on directing/acting/producing films, and they presented their senior seminar projects on various topics related to Artificial Intelligence and the Problems of Value Alignment at the 2023 Philosophy Poster Presentations. They contributed to campus in many other ways as well by having second majors/minors, participating in sports (softball, track, football), clubs, and various campus organizations, working on campus, and more . They go on to jobs, graduate school, law school, travel, and more.
Prof. Tubert continued, speaking to the graduates on behalf of the philosophy faculty,
We are proud of each of you and all you have accomplished. We will miss you terribly and yes, we noticed how much you have done during your time at Puget Sound, complicated as it was by the pandemic and other things. We noticed and appreciated your contributions, your talent, and your enthusiasm each step of the way. We wish you all the very best as you continue on your path beyond Puget Sound!
It was a great commencement weekend in which we celebrated with Philosophy Majors, Minors, and their family and friends. This was our first in-person departmental reception since 2019 and it was a fun one! Graduation day brought us some rain which made the campus so much more picturesque.
We so much appreciate these graduates who, after completing most or all of their junior-year courses online, were back in the classroom this past fall with lots of enthusiasm and ready to talk about philosophy. Best wishes to each of you as you move on to the next stage of your lives and congratulations on your accomplishments!
In recent years, the Department of Philosophy has interviewed alumni and graduating seniors about their experiences as philosophy majors, how philosophy has prepared them for post-graduation, and what advice they have for current students (you can find some of those interviews here.) In this interview, Samantha Lilly ’19 speaks about how they decided to become a philosophy major, their favorite classes, how philosophy affected their day to day life, and more. Sam is currently pursuing research in Argentina with the support of a Fulbright Research Fellowship they received for the project “Rights Based Approaches to Mental Health and Wellness” (you can read more about the project here.) Before going to Argentina, upon graduating from Puget Sound in 2019 with a major in Philosophy and a minor in Bioethics, Sam received a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship for the project “Understanding Suicidality Across Cultures,” which took them to the Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, Indonesia, and Nepal (you can read about that project and how it connected to Sam’s studies here.)
What are you doing now? How did you get there?
Currently I am living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I am here with the financial support of a Fulbright Research grant.
I arrived on March 10, 2022.
The story of how I “got” to Argentina is long and complicated, mostly fueled by the volatility of the pandemic.
I had the opportunity to apply for a Fulbright during the summer of 2020—if not for the pandemic, I would have never considered applying as I was in the middle of a different fellowship, the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. Indeed, in early-March of 2020, I was living in Denpasar, Indonesia seeking understanding of grassroots organizing and support for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia/psychosis. Only three months prior was I first living in Buenos Aires, doing more or less exactly what I am doing now, albeit on a much smaller scale.
However, I can say this with relative confidence. I wouldn’t have been awarded these ‘prestigious’ fellowships if it were not for my pursuance of a degree in philosophy.
Growing up in a low-SES, I felt initially that studying philosophy was a death sentence. And, I don’t think that that’s all that cynical, academia is challenging and our world doesn’t value the skills that studying philosophy teaches… however, if I hadn’t trusted my gut and changed majors mid-way through my Junior year, I wouldn’t be living the life I am—studying and doing philosophy was ultimately what felt most authentic to me.
And, I refuse to believe that, that sense of authenticity I felt when I would go to philosophy classes wasn’t an indication of what I ought to have been doing and studying.
In other words, in hindsight, I got here because younger Sam did what they felt was best for themselves and studying philosophy was what was best for me.
How did you get interested in Philosophy in the first place?
I initially became interested in philosophy in high school. The high school I attended in Utah had the best debate program in the State. And, when I joined, I knew that I didn’t want to rely on a partner, so I chose to do Lincoln-Douglas debate—which is really just applied moral philosophy.
When I got to UPS, I was part of the Honors Program and for whatever reason, my freshman year the Honors cohort were the very last to register for our classes and other classes for my then major, psychology, were full. So, I took Moral Philosophy with Professor Tubert…I felt it wouldn’t be too challenging and one thing led to another, and I started taking more and more classes as electives and was lucky enough to have taken enough random classes here and there to, when the time came, switch my major fairly easily.
Was there any area of Philosophy that interested you the most?
Moral philosophy, without a doubt. But, also, I really, really loved epistemology.
Do you remember your favorite philosophy class as a student?
This question sucks a little bit. For whatever reason, the first thing that comes to mind when I think of my favorite class is the class that challenged me the most: Metaethics. What a rewarding but complicated class.
As for my favorites, I don’t know if I can discern a favorite.
Of course, I really loved the classes I took with Ariela. In particular, I am grateful for Latin American philosophy—it was a small window into the world I have grown to really admire and love. And, also the questions we asked in that class are questions I return to almost every day here in Argentina.
However, epistemology with Justin was really wonderful. I enjoyed deeply thinking how he inspired and encouraged us to think… I carry with me every day the demeanor of epistemic humility we talked about so frequently in that class. I think of all the classes, this class really changed me the most as a thinker. I really value the ideal or “virtue” of “owning one’s limitations.”
But, then I cannot speak enough to how deeply meaningful my time was in Philosophy of Emotions with Sara. Nor can I really comprehend how my capstone with Sam really allowed me to delve into what I do currently.
And, honestly, I really really loved 19th Century philosophy. Something about Hegel. I don’t know what it was. But, I loved it.
Why did you ultimately decide to become a Philosophy major?
When the psychology department told me that the questions I was asking re: suicide and suicidality were perhaps better fit in philosophy than psychology.
I also really leaned into philosophy when I began to realize the limitations of the “psi” disciplines. Why was I suffering through applied statistics when I didn’t believe that those tools of measurement were meaningful or valid?
I wanted to understand the human condition. I wanted to understand what drives us to suicide. What brings us to tears and to our knees. And I was told my entire life that to understand sadness and pain and joy and love one should study psychology. But I realized that these questions, at least to me, are better asked and ‘answered’ in philosophy.
It feels more human and less pathologizing. I digress. I decided to become a philosophy major when my moral compass told me it was more ethical to do philosophy than do the other things, I had initially intended on doing when I arrived at UPS.
Along with Philosophy, did you major or minor in any other subject? Has it worked well with Philosophy?
I also studied bioethics and I think I was like one or two classes away from a psychology major. I was also in the Honors Program.
Of course, philosophy and bioethics coalesced incredibly well together. I got to take all that I was learning in my philosophy classes and then apply them to tricky cases we would consider in bioethics. However, I will say that I am far less of a bioethicist than I am a philosopher (if I can call myself that).
In other words, I feel I use far less what I learned in bioethics courses now than I what I learned in my “general” philosophy courses. I don’t care about case-by-case bedside decision making very much anymore, I, instead, care about the systems, cultures, beliefs, and zeitgeists that contextualize and house those very same hospital beds.
How did your parents or strangers react when you first told them you were a Philosophy major?
Oh. The strangers? They laughed. They still do. I crack jokes about it because of the student debt I have for a philosophy degree. But, it seems to have worked out pretty well, no?
My mom was a bit concerned. She asked me what I would do with a philosophy degree. And, now, sometimes, randomly, I’ll text her and let her know this is what I can do with a philosophy degree—just the other day, when I was meeting with the Ambassador to Argentina, I texted her and said “Look what I am doing now with my philosophy degree.”
That is, traveling the world and exploring different cultural perspectives on mental health care and human rights.
Any particular memory you have as a Philosophy major at UPS that stands out?
The memories they come and go.
But, I remember how good it felt to walk in to Ariela’s office and tell her that I was awarded the Watson. I think Ariela really believed in me and her mentorship was invaluable to my growth as a thinker and writer and person and so to share that with her, it was really special to me.
I also remember a mannerism of Justin’s that I do now when I am sharing or speaking about something—whenever I do it, I am taken immediately back to the philosophy classroom.
Justin, when he asked us questions, would put his pointer finger to his temple and inquire and wonder, with an influx in his voice, about something.
“Ah.” He would say. “And was it then a justified true belief?”
Or “Ah.” As he raises his hand up to his head: “Does the man in the box actually know Chinese?”
I don’t know I remember this vividly and it makes me smile when I find myself doing it.
How would you say the Philosophy major helped you with your career, relationships with people, and generally your outlook on life?
Being a philosophy major was arguably the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. I think I said this when I was interviewed about the Watson awhile back majoring in philosophy is, in effect, a major in oneself.
You learn your own outlooks and beliefs and you get to better your thoughts and how you think. I mean, I feel if you do a philosophy major the right away you become a more compassionate, humane, and critical person.
And I think that, that’s dissimilar from most other majors because in other majors you’ll learn these facts that aren’t facts and you’ll practice these imperfect methodologies and ideas and then you’ll have to regurgitate them on an exam or in a lab. And, if you’re lucky, you’ll use these facts and methodologies to create new knowledge and new imperfect facts and methodologies.
But, in philosophy, especially at UPS, you read dead and not-dead people and then you think about it and then you write about it and before you know it you incorporate it, or you don’t incorporate it, into your own ideals and beliefs—but it is never considered perfect nor complete, it is always re-considered. And, I think it is this underlying value of philosophy that keeps me entertained and engaged in my day-to-day life—it’s always about continuous improvement, it’s always re-imagining and understanding from different perspectives and viewpoints.
Also, for the record Philosophy of Emotions has helped me immensely in understanding and extending compassion to others when they’re angry, upset, envious, or jealous.
And, I mean, lastly, I think that a lot of folks struggle to understand how to make an argument for something. And, like I definitely can do that now.
Any advice for current Philosophy students?
If you can, find a question you’re really curious about, and just continue asking that question in every class you take. For me it was: why do we keep people from killing themselves? And, it’s this question that has propelled me into the life I have today. The question can be anything, but, let it be uniquely yours and don’t let others tell you that it’s been answered already.
As some data on our graduates shows, Puget Sound philosophy majors go on to succeed in a variety of fields, with alumni pursuing careers in philosophy, education, law, or technology. Regardless of career choice, they find value in the skills and perspective they developed during their time studying philosophy at Puget Sound. Another career path that philosophy majors succeed in is consulting. We have had a number of majors pursue careers in consulting over the years and the value of philosophical training for business has been discussed in some prominent venues (see, for example here and here.) More recently and closer to home, rGen, a business consulting firm based in the Seattle area, has been hiring some of our very talented recent philosophy graduates, including Liam Grantham ’20, Brian Kim ’21, and August Malueg ‘20.
Ray Rasmussen, Founder and Managing Principal at rGen, told us about the work they do and why they are interested in hiring philosophy graduates from Puget Sound:
We work with some of the largest and most leading-edge technology companies to help them drive and achieve business results. These companies are fast-paced and demand world-class quality. All the time. So, the work we do is hard.
Puget Sound takes a rigorous approach to a college education emphasizing the importance of ethics and personal responsibility, students are challenged to be their best in intellectual and personal pursuits. This is especially true for philosophy students at Puget Sound. Students are immersed in intellectual, philosophical, and ethical ideas from great thinkers from around the globe and across time. The pursuit of diverse ideas, diverse ways of seeing issues, and diverse ways looking for truth requires a nimble mind, an openness to understanding, and a disciplined approach to analysis. Successful Puget Sound philosophy grads have had to stretch their minds and imaginations to understand the world’s most powerful philosophical ideas.
Our Consulting Master Class spans eight weeks and provides new college graduates with the context, industry understanding, and practical skills needed to be a world-class consultant. The rGen Consulting Master Class is hard, but we find Puget Sound philosophy grads are up to the challenge.
The results are impressive, philosophy grads are not afraid of hard topics, of complexity, nor of nuance. They are ideally suited to understand the most important business issues our clients face and ready to work as a team to find great ideas. And then, bring those ideas to life.
Speaking about the ability to face challenges, Liam Grantham ’20 highlighted how his experiences studying philosophy helped to develop a positive attitude vis-à-vis challenge which he brings to his work:
What has helped me immensely in my new role, is the ability to take on any problem. I took Metaethics (with Ariela Tubert) freshman year without really knowing what meta meant, let alone what the study of ethics entailed. I knew how out of my depths I was and it was difficult being so far behind everyone else. But you learn as you go and eventually things start to snap into place. My first project felt a lot like that. I had little to no background in tech or business, but I knew that I had the ability to learn. And now I can confidently lead meetings with my clients, knowing that I am adding value to the conversation. I guess if I were to sum it up: Not knowing doesn’t scare me anymore.
Focusing on the work he does and the skills he developed through the study of philosophy, August Malueg ’20 said,
In consulting, my day-to-day activities are defined by the project in which I’ve been placed and the client with whom I am working. Typical projects span a couple of months, and as such, consultants frequently encounter new subjects and areas of expertise outside of their current knowledge. The ability to quickly analyze new concepts to attain a basic understanding is essential to constantly changing clients, projects, and modes of work.
The fundamentals of philosophical thought – analytical paradigms, knowledge-making, logical consistency – are ubiquitous in the worlds of business and technology, and those able to apply these notions are a step ahead when faced with wide-ranging and challenging new concepts. Understanding and communication between individuals drives results and builds cooperation and fellowship. Those who can communicate their ideas with precision and work through disagreement are better off because of it. More broadly speaking, the world is made up of ideas – Philosophy helps students peek behind the blinds.
Brian Kim ’21, discussed how the practice in critical and analytic thinking that he got as part of his studies in philosophy are helpful in his consulting work at rGen,
An important part of my work deals with identifying the different components to a problem, visualize which components are limiting factors, and then to clearly communicate my analysis to someone. Taking a problem with many components and rephrasing it in more accessible terms without losing any valuable information is a skill I wouldn’t have enriched without philosophy.
I’m currently building an interactive report that requires some coding and data modeling. Though I was never the best at formal logic, I always think about how helpful that experience was for this assignment. Knowing some logic has made learning this coding language considerably easier. Coming into this assignment with my formal logic background has allowed me to make much more progress than I ever would have without it.
Brian also spoke about how his studies in philosophy led him to appreciate the importance of empathy in relating to others and the breath of outlook that comes from studying philosophy:
I often think about the topics I learned in Sara Protasi’s Philosophy of Emotions course and my summer research project that was inspired from it. My main takeaway from those experiences is that the emotions people feel reflects their beliefs about a given circumstance. While their beliefs may not be necessarily correct, or even rational, their emotions are a manifested form of their beliefs. This insight is actualized in practice through empathy. I believe that the quality of my relationships has improved considerably when I stopped emphasizing only what someone was saying and started caring more about how they are saying it. I used to aspire to be someone who spoke from their mind, but philosophy reoriented my goals to want to be someone who speaks and listens from the heart.
My time as a philosophy major taught me not to take my beliefs so seriously. The constant engagement in hypotheticals helped me realize that many things I believe in are probably wrong! Letting go of the seriousness of my beliefs and instead being more agnostic has helped me be more open-minded and become a better conversationalist.
On a related note, Liam spoke about the importance of trying to engage with and understand the perspective of others:
My favorite part about philosophy was always the dialectic, and what I took away from my conversations was the importance of listening first, and responding charitably. My first real pitch meeting was somewhat of a surprise for me. We had prepared some talking points for me to go through, but I was playing more of a supporting role until our client pivoted the meeting to talk predominately to me. My ability to listen and respond allowed me to make clear statements and ask good questions. We ended up getting the contract. While I know the expertise of my colleagues was the driving force in winning that contract, my background in Philosophy enabled me to connect with our client and instill confidence that their point of view would be heard and taken seriously.
Reflecting on a specific situation when he put the skills he gained through his philosophical studies to use, August said:
When my boss asked me, “Who wrote The Metaphysics of Morals?” Just kidding. I think that one area that illustrates the skills I gained through my studies in philosophy is building business presentations. Just as in a philosophical essay, it is essential for presentations to uphold logical consistency, especially when concerned with execution and the delivery of real-world results. Philosophy has taught me not only how to parse out an argument (or presentation) into main ideas and supporting elements, but also how to take a step back and see how everything fits together.
While August compared preparing presentations to writing a philosophical essay, Brian compared writing philosophy to other aspects of his work:
My philosophy studies have shaped my thinking to be highly critical of assumptions, able to identify potential objections, and to be flexible (or rigid!) with language. These skills help me see both the micro and macro-level details in a project and allow me to smoothly navigate my role. I’m currently helping build a year-long plan comprised of multiple initiatives and even more workstreams within those initiatives. I have to be able to see the big picture to line up the different initiatives to their respective outcomes and identify potential risks to the plan, which often reminds me of structuring a philosophy paper! It’s not too different from putting together multiple lines of an argument to drive my thesis and to identify potential objections. The topics I work on now obviously differ from the writing I did in college, but the skills I learned from structuring philosophical arguments are ones I utilize often.
August, Brian, and Liam were all part of the ethics bowl team at Puget Sound. As part of the team, they got practice in researching, discussing, and working together to build unified team recommendations on various complex ethical dilemmas. Ethics bowl is one of the experiential learning opportunities offered to students in the department and the work the students did on the team fits with the team-oriented nature of their work at rGen. Ray explained their approach to supporting their employees and encouraging collaboration:
We match each new consultant with a mentor that provides advice and guidance on how to manage consulting challenges, succeed with new tools, and work in a dynamic teaming environment.
For all team members at all levels, each day begins with a team scrum with team members discussing the objectives of the day, areas on which they may need help, and areas on which they may be helpful to others.
Professor Ariela Tubert, chair of the philosophy department, said she was excited about this new opportunity for Puget Sound philosophy students
We appreciate rGen’s values-based approach, focus on developing long term relationships, and their strategy of investing in training recent philosophy graduates. Our philosophy majors are awesome and it’s great to see the skills they developed throughout their studies valued in a field as competitive as consulting.
Speaking about the work they do in philosophy courses, Prof. Tubert said:
Throughout their time at Puget Sound, our students develop as thinkers and communicators, they become comfortable with intellectual challenge, and with working in groups where they have to engage with alternative points of view. In addition, they have practice with the nuance and complexity that comes with trying to balance different sorts of values or considerations and envisioning alternative possibilities. Our philosophy graduates tend to be the sort of creative thinkers that can think outside the box and are used to being part of a collaborative environment – whether it is in group projects or activities such as organizing a philosophy conference or being part of the ethics bowl team, they are used to collaborating and supporting each other.
Margaret Snape, Management and Operations Practice Leader at rGen, spoke about the value she sees in the skills and experience that our students bring with them:
It has been a pleasure working with the team from Puget Sound’s philosophy department. Their background in philosophy helps them to think through complex business problems, quickly identify where our clients need help, and offer tailored solutions to our clients. Additionally, their training creates a perspective and drives rigor that is difficult to find in other candidates. As a leader of the business, I am grateful for their eagerness to learn and their teamwork. I look forward to adding Puget Sound philosophers to our team.
Speaking about Puget Sound’s program in philosophy from his experience hiring recent graduates, Ray Rasmussen said,
It is a great place to learn all about big ideas, ethical behavior, breakthrough problem-solving, and teamwork. For us that makes Puget Sound philosophy grads an ideal place to find strong candidates that are great fit for our business consulting firm.
Discussing how the study of the humanities, and philosophy in particular, can be practical in connection to his work in consulting, Liam said:
There is a sentiment, though it is certainly dying, that degrees like Philosophy or History or English close off or limit career paths. I’ve found exactly the opposite. I can do anything because I have a background in thinking about everything, not just doing one thing.
Puget Sound Philosophy was well represented at the 2022 meeting of the Pacific Division of the American Philosophical Association in Vancouver, BC.
Logan Canada-Johnson ’22 reflected on the experience of attending the conference and presenting his work during the Teaching Hub poster session:
The APA Pacific Division Meeting was my last stop on a series of conferences that I was fortunate enough to present at this semester. Thanks to a special sponsorship from the American Association for Philosophy Teachers and a University Enrichment Grant, I was able to drive to Vancouver BC and present a poster version of my summer research on cinematic street art. The conference was full of enlightening talks, spirited debates, and pleasant people who I was fortunate enough to engage with, including some who were featured in my work! Nicholas Riggle, who was one of the first aestheticians to discuss street art in philosophy, kindly stopped by my presentation and asked me questions about my arguments — for philosophers, that’s kind of like one of your favorite actors reading a script you wrote for them. Being immersed in a philosophical environment for 4 days was inspirational, both in the sense that I am inspired by the intellectual rigor of the philosophers there and in the sense that I am inspired by their ideas. There really isn’t anything I could’ve wished for to have been better in the short time that I was there, except perhaps that it was a bit longer. Thank the philosophy department for helping our renegade group of philosophers attend the APA and to all of the other philosophy majors who came along for this wonderful conference.
Jack Lang ’22, also reflected on his experience at the conference:
My attendance at the American Philosophical Association conference in Vancouver, British Columbia was a highlight of my college experience. The variety of philosophers who were there really made it clear how many different directions you can go with philosophy, this scope allowed me to explore topics I had not heard of before as well as those that have been discussed in length during classes I have taken. It was this breadth of the conference that was truly useful for me, prior to going, I was unsure what areas of philosophy I enjoy working in, but after the second day, I realized that my big interests revolve around morals and ethics. In addition to this, it was truly impressive to hear people that I have read, for class and leisure, speak about the new ideas they have or ideas that they recently fleshed out. Another feature of this conference that made it a prodigious experience was the ability to approach anyone there and discuss philosophical ideas, I spoke to one philosopher about my desire to learn more about Chinese philosophy and she was able to get me materials to read on the subject, this interaction is one I will remember for a long time. The congeniality and professionalism of everyone there made me feel welcome even as one of the few undergraduate students in attendance. When professor Manuel Rodeiro, author of Mining Thacker Pass: Environmental Justice and the Demands of Green Energy, became aware of our undergraduate status he seemed truly impressed and happy to see people our age taking a serious interest in academic philosophy. Even though I felt the weight of all the school work bearing down on me, I am happy I was able to attend because it was one of the rare trips that resulted in the acquisition of knowledge. It was an experience that I would not trade for anything else the world has to offer.
In recent years, the Department of Philosophy has interviewed alumni and graduating seniors about their experiences as philosophy majors, how philosophy has prepared them for post-graduation, and what advice they have for current students (you can find some of those interviews here and here.) In this interview, conducted by Brian Kim ’21, Colleen Hanson ’19 speaks about how she decided to become a philosophy major and her experience sharing the news, how the study of philosophy has affected her day to day life, her favorite memories and favorite philosophy classes, how her work in philosophy interacted with her Bioethics Emphasis, and advice for current students on how to approach their studies and select paper topics. Colleen is currently pursuing her PhD in Philosophy at UCLA, you can read an interview with her at the UCLA Philosophy website here. You can read about her summer research project here and about her participation in ethics bowl here.
In recent years, the Department of Philosophy has interviewed alumni and graduating seniors about their experiences as philosophy majors, how philosophy has prepared them for post-graduation, and what advice they have for current students (you can find some of those interviews here and here.) This year in an effort to recognize our graduating seniors in the midst of the pandemic, we are expanding the number of senior interviews. In this video interview, Grace Osborne-Neukirc ’21 tells us about first getting interested in philosophy, favorite courses, how philosophical education can contribute to scientific practice, and more. Grace is graduating with majors in Philosophy and Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience.
In recent years, the Department of Philosophy has interviewed alumni and graduating seniors about their experiences as philosophy majors, how philosophy has prepared them for post-graduation, and what advice they have for current students (you can find some of those interviews here and here.) This year in an effort to recognize our graduating seniors in the midst of the pandemic, we are expanding the number of senior interviews. For this post, we interviewed Ben Sovocool ’21. Graduating with majors in Economics and Philosophy, Ben is planning to attend Cornell law school in the fall.
How did you get interested in philosophy in the first place?
My interest in philosophy was first really sparked through high school English, funnily enough. In fact, I think it was Shakespeare, probably Hamlet. Once you start to really dig into it (though with Hamlet you don’t have to dig very hard) these really interesting questions start to come up. Live versus death, meaning, our moral obligations and so on. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote was also an influence. How do we understand and confront evil? I tried reading some philosophy in high school, which largely went nowhere. It felt like a challenge, though, and it was immediately appealing to have this great intellectual puzzle. I didn’t have any high school philosophy classes, which I am pretty thankful for in all honesty. I took PHIL 101 my first semester and from there I was off.
Is there an area of philosophy that interests you the most?
My primary interests are metaphysics, moral philosophy, and metaethics. Of the three, my real favorite is metaphysics.
What about this area is interesting to you?
The foundation of philosophy is the instinctive human practice of asking questions which are very hard to answer. I think that metaphysics is a category of philosophy which approaches some of our most difficult and most important questions regarding the nature of life and the world around us. Moreover, the way we answer these metaphysical questions has a distinct impact on the way we perceive the world around us all the time.
Has your study of philosophy informed your day to day life or how you make decisions?
It’s difficult to identify the ways that the study of philosophy has directly influenced my life or decision-making in the sense of pointing to a few scenarios or choices. I do feel that studying philosophy has had a profound impact on the way I think systematically, though the change has been in bits over time. So to answer your question, yes to both, but more in the sense of providing a way to think than a set of information to apply.
What was your favorite philosophy class?
It’s very hard to choose just one. It might be 17th and 18th Century Philosophy, which is a really fascinating course. The burst of intellectual developments in those two centuries was really staggering, producing a great number of philosophers whose works are still very relevant now.
How has your other major shaped your philosophical studies and vice versa?
Studying philosophy has had a huge impact on my study of economics. Economics was, in its early stages, essentially a branch of philosophy. Certainly in Plato and Aristotle we see discussions of economy, and Smith, Mill, and Marx were self-admittedly philosophical. They thought this because economics is concerned with a number of philosophical questions, and the answers we choose dictate a great deal of the economic program. These hidden normative components, once you are able to see and understand them, really influence how you view all economics (orthodox and heterodox). I also feel that understanding philosophy, especially epistemology, is useful for all sciences (or pseudosciences).
Studying economics was useful in studying philosophy because economics tends to encourage a particularly analytical method of thinking. This x causes y, which acts on z in so and so way. I think that method of thinking is useful both for breaking down arguments in philosophy and for maintaining a level of focus and coherence in my own writing, which was a problem for me in the past.
When and why did you ultimately decide to become a philosophy major?
I entered college wanting to be a philosophy major. My advising class was in economics, which I also really enjoyed, and so for a while I was torn. I never really made up my mind, so I decided to double major at the start of sophomore year and never regretted it.
How did your parents and strangers react when you told them you were a philosophy major?
My parents were very supportive. The economics major I’m sure allayed their concerns somewhat. I got the question about what I would do for a job for a while, although recently I haven’t very much.
Do you have a particular memory as a philosophy major at Puget Sound that stands out to you?
Not one in particular, but I remember a number of real writing sessions which will stick with me for a while. Locking myself in the study closet on the third floor of Schiff to write a paper freshman year, or downstairs in the library in the stacks junior year. Hours and hours of Satie and Debussy. I remember all of it very fondly.
Do you have any advice for current philosophy students?
You will find yourself at times unable to understand what you are reading, or translate it into your own words on paper. Try and break it down into smaller, understandable pieces, and then reassemble the argument in parts until you understand the whole thing. With enough time, all arguments are understandable. Ask questions if you have them, because usually someone else is wondering the exact same thing. Introductions in primary sources often greatly aid in understanding. However, you need to always read the primary source. Summaries online will give you a partial understanding at best, and a misinterpretation at worst. Don’t be afraid of classic philosophy; understanding the big names will give you the context a lot of later authors assume. Find a good study space and use it.
Any final thoughts?
As a philosophy student, one good trick is to lean on a quotation to say precisely what you struggle to express. It’s appropriate, then, to close out with a quote on the value of philosophy. In De Officiis, Cicero wrote the following: “if the man lives who would belittle the study of philosophy, I quite fail to see what in the world he would see fit to praise. For if we are looking for mental enjoyment and relaxation, what pleasure can be compared with the pursuits of those who are always studying out something that will tend toward and effectively promote a good and happy life? Or, if regard is had for strength of character and virtue, then this is the method by which we can attain to those qualities, or there is none at all. And to say that there is no “method” for securing the highest blessings, when none even of the least important concerns is without its method, is the language of people who talk without due reflection and who blunder in matters of the utmost importance. Furthermore, if there is really a way to learn virtue, where shall one look for it, when one has turned aside from this field of learning?” (Book II Part 6)
In recent years, the Department of Philosophy has interviewed alumni and graduating seniors about their experiences as philosophy majors, how philosophy has prepared them for post-graduation, and what advice they have for current students (you can find some of those interviews here and here.) This year in an effort to recognize our graduating seniors in the midst of the pandemic, we are expanding the number of senior interviews. In this post, Guillermo Ruiz ’21 notes his appreciation for philosophical discussions with other students and says that majoring in philosophy is like ‘majoring in life’ given that ‘you are constantly problem-solving’. In addition, he speaks about what he likes about philosophy, his favorite class, how philosophy helps him approach challenging situations, his advice for students considering philosophy, and more.
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