By increasing the care with which they reconsider ideas, Philosophy students deepen their understanding of themselves and others. The study of Philosophy provides students with opportunities to gain the skills of doing research, writing clearly and effectively, communicating well orally, formulating and solving problems in many different areas, eliciting hidden assumptions, ar ticulating overlooked alternatives, summarizing complicated materials, integrating diverse information, and adapting to change. All of these skills are useful in a variety of contexts beyond the classroom.
Philosophy emphasizes the construction and evaluation of arguments.
In a time when reasoned argumentation is scarce, the study of Philosophy helps to keep alive the possibility of genuine public discourse. As an expression of wonder at the mysterious nature of the universe and human life, Philosophy is intrinsically satisfying and worthwhile. Steve Martin, Wes Craven, Bruce Lee, Woody Allen, Katha Pollitt, Carl Icahn, Jon Tenney and Stone Philips all studied Philosophy. The study of Philosophy allows one to appreciate and grapple with the ethical and conceptual issues that arise in other fields, such as science, business, and the law. Philosophy stretches the imagination through the encounter with radically different conceptions of the world and human life.