The Spy Who Came in from the Cold a conversation takes place between the British agent Leamas and his East German adversary Fiedler in which the latter asks about Leamas' philosophy, about the set of convictions that guide his life as a spy. Leamas, like many a practical person, claims he doesn't know and doesn't care. The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates claimed that the unexamined life is not worth living. If we don't have a clear grasp of our own deepest convictions, he thought, then our lives are immeasurably impoverished.
People often wonder what they can do with philosophy.
A character played by Mayim Bialik offers her wry reflections on majoring in philosophy in Woody Allen's film Don't Drink the Water Students major in philosophy because they find the questions raised in philosophy classes interesting to discuss and think about. They also value the skills in argument analysis and critical thinking they acquire along the way. The Philosophy Department is located in the Philosophy Lodge at 1035 Stadium Drive.