bar_scene_gambler

I realized that there's no such thing as a safety school. Also, definitely apply to several MA programs, because even if you have a strong application as a BA student, it won't look as strong on paper as those with MA's (generally, but I wouldn't say this is a rule). 

I think the main reason why we're irritated with you and other non-philosophy applicants is because you're unqualified to speak about the applications process in philosophy in any meaningful way, given that you are neither currently applying, nor have you ever applied for placement in a philosophy department. On top of that, the comments that you have made, especially in relation to your confusion over why there aren't more positions available to philosophy applicants, betray not only an ignorance of the way that graduate programs function in philosophy, but also a basic ignorance of the way academia and the economy function. Frankly, your comments are unwanted and unwarranted. I don't know how I or fuzzylogician could possibly make ourselves more clear.

I think the main reason why we're irritated with you and other non-philosophy applicants is because you're unqualified to speak about the applications process in philosophy in any meaningful way, given that you are neither currently applying, nor have you ever applied for placement in a philosophy department. On top of that, the comments that you have made, especially in relation to your confusion over why there aren't more positions available to philosophy applicants, betray not only an ignorance of the way that graduate programs function in philosophy, but also a basic ignorance of the way academia and the economy function. Frankly, your comments are unwanted and unwarranted. I don't know how I or fuzzylogician could possibly make ourselves more clear.

I realized that there's no such thing as a safety school. Also, definitely apply to several MA programs, because even if you have a strong application as a BA student, it won't look as strong on paper as those with MA's (generally, but I wouldn't say this is a rule). 

I don't know why you think I'm being unnecessarily pessimistic. It's a tough break. I didn't discourage him/her from contacting the department or anything, and I didn't imply that it was university-wide or absolutely iron-fisted in design. You're cranking my statement up too much. I wasn't being nearly as extreme as you seem to be portraying me, and I certainly didn't encourage a defeated attitude. Chill out with the strawmen. Of course he/she should talk to the department. I'm sure it's possible to reason with them and get something accomplished. It's just a tough break.

As for your post, it's not exactly compelling evidence. All it proves is that a different University in the UK made an exception for someone with similar circumstances. Which, again, just to make myself absolutely clear, is not an indication of a personal belief that OP should give up, just that he/she should be realistic and not put all of his/her eggs in the one basket, hence why I said concentrate to concentrate his/her efforts elsewhere, because at this point things are totally in the hands of the department/graduate school and their sense of reason and charity. 

EDIT: Just to be clear, I posted this in hopes of clarifying my statement. I'm not going to engage with you in some fruitless debate. I'm adamant that this particular thread will remain positive in its nature, and debate-free if I can help it. 

I realized that there's no such thing as a safety school. Also, definitely apply to several MA programs, because even if you have a strong application as a BA student, it won't look as strong on paper as those with MA's (generally, but I wouldn't say this is a rule). 

Stuff that I think is a must read if you're getting into Nietzsche:

Early: The Birth of Tragedy
          Schopenhauer as Educator

Middle: The Gay Science

Late: Twilight of the Idols
         Beyond Good and Evil
         Genealogy of Morals

Only after those would I suggest someone take a look at Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The book is notoriously difficult and infamous for giving people the wrong impression of Nietzsche. Out of all of those works though, Twilight is absolutely amazing, followed closely by Schopenhauer as Educator. 

That's an odd use of the word "sexism" and "racism". Is it possible to say, "X is racist", and have X be something that isn't based upon a power structure and still makes sense? Of course it is. If X were, say, a black man calling a white man a "cracker" or "honky" for some reason or another, we would say that he was being racist. The first thing to come to our minds wouldn't be, "That is non-existent reverse racism". That's just pointless philosophizing after-the-fact. The situation I described is just as racist as a white man calling a black man a nigger, and plain sense tells us that. What that indicates, to me anyways, is that power structures are not essential to the meaning of the word "racism". However, in all usages of the word racism that I can think of, discrimination or prejudice are implied.

Can we do the same thing for sexism? Let's say that a woman sees a single father trying to calm his crying infant daughter and remarks that only a woman is capable of properly raising a little girl. We would probably say that's a sexist remark. We certainly wouldn't say, "Don't be such a reverse-sexist!". After all, how could we since such things don't exist? 

Furthermore, what does inventing the term "reverse-racism/sexism" do exactly if it can't even exist? It seems about as useful as discussing unicorns. It seems to me that these are, at best, misuses of the words.

FUCK YOU AND YOUR REASONABLE MIDDLE GROUNDS!!! I'M GOING TO GO BECOME AN UBERMENSCH SO I CAN RAPE AND PILLAGE! HAVE FUN WITH YOUR LOGIC


EDIT: In all seriousness though, the fact that you didn't even read Nietzsche or Heidegger (and I assume others from the list) during your undergraduate career is a crying shame. I read Wittgenstein and Mill and Moore and others from that list, and I'm glad I did, even though I don't particularly like Moore. It does bother me a bit that there are places where a broad education at the undergraduate level isn't emphasized. 

I have also slacked a lot on summer reading. My girlfriend and I moved to Avondale Estates (a suburb of Atlanta) and I've just been relaxing mostly. I read a few books, but not what I wanted to read. I'm probably going to propose in the next few weeks, so we'll see how that goes. 

I have also slacked a lot on summer reading. My girlfriend and I moved to Avondale Estates (a suburb of Atlanta) and I've just been relaxing mostly. I read a few books, but not what I wanted to read. I'm probably going to propose in the next few weeks, so we'll see how that goes. 

you know I have confidence that once I've retaken my GRE I'll definitely get back into a reading groove (right now I've been studying about 10 hours a day for it because I'm determined to get my scores up from the previous round), but I've found that I have been drawn into this lurid habit of turning to TLC shows to unwind for a bit after study sessions- this has never happened before! I'm guessing it's because I haven't watched TV in years, and now that I've graduated I'm like, "so what is this square device in front of me? I guess I'll turn it on and find out!" I'm so embarrassed and I guess this is my guilty confession!
But my God, BEST WISHES ON YOUR PROPOSAL!!!!! Maybe I'll see your future fiance on Say Yes to the Dress during one of my TLC binges!

I have also slacked a lot on summer reading. My girlfriend and I moved to Avondale Estates (a suburb of Atlanta) and I've just been relaxing mostly. I read a few books, but not what I wanted to read. I'm probably going to propose in the next few weeks, so we'll see how that goes. 

I have also slacked a lot on summer reading. My girlfriend and I moved to Avondale Estates (a suburb of Atlanta) and I've just been relaxing mostly. I read a few books, but not what I wanted to read. I'm probably going to propose in the next few weeks, so we'll see how that goes. 

Booooooo!!!

Oh, and my vote is for pretty much any analytic philosopher. I can do that right?

I think many of us still are. Very unprofessional of them, waiting so long to notify their rejections.

I really don't understand why we're throwing names of philosophers and works around as if they're going to be universally attractive. I know if someone gave me Russell's "On Denoting" (or the other suggestions here) as an example of what philosophers did, I would never have decided to major. I probably would have dropped it and never looked at philosophy again. The reason why I stepped into philosophy to begin with was because the first thing I read, Self-Reliance, was absolutely beautiful and spoke to me and my personal sense of taste. Of course, I've grown since then and reading something outside my area of interest isn't going to make me abandon the field, but you have to get them through the door before you can broaden their horizons. I don't know why we're assuming philstudent's brother is only going to be interested in mathematics. One shouldn't aim at his current interests or what he thinks is useful, one should aim at what he thinks is absolutely indispensable, the thing that speaks to very core of his being. In my case, it was the desire for individuality, but it could be anything. Of course, that makes our task impossible because out of all of us, I'm pretty sure only philstudent knows his brother that well.

I really don't understand why we're throwing names of philosophers and works around as if they're going to be universally attractive. I know if someone gave me Russell's "On Denoting" (or the other suggestions here) as an example of what philosophers did, I would never have decided to major. I probably would have dropped it and never looked at philosophy again. The reason why I stepped into philosophy to begin with was because the first thing I read, Self-Reliance, was absolutely beautiful and spoke to me and my personal sense of taste. Of course, I've grown since then and reading something outside my area of interest isn't going to make me abandon the field, but you have to get them through the door before you can broaden their horizons. I don't know why we're assuming philstudent's brother is only going to be interested in mathematics. One shouldn't aim at his current interests or what he thinks is useful, one should aim at what he thinks is absolutely indispensable, the thing that speaks to very core of his being. In my case, it was the desire for individuality, but it could be anything. Of course, that makes our task impossible because out of all of us, I'm pretty sure only philstudent knows his brother that well.

Definitely will. Also, we found this awesome blog where some dude posts awesome stuff to do in ATL on a daily basis. Apparently there's $2 tacos, tequila, and tecate somewhere (can't remember the name) every Tuesday. I'll have to send you the link.

If you're looking to convince him, then you'll need to tailor it to his specific interests. It'll have to be something that speaks to him as a person. Philosophy which doesn't speak to him will naturally feel like a waste of his time. So I'd suggest figuring out the sort of thing that would appeal to his personality. Does he think of himself as a realist, as someone who sees the world for what it is? Then maybe something like Aurelius or Epictetus would speak to him. You get the general idea. Just make sure that whatever you start him out with is accessible. And unless there's something about the Meditations which will interest him personally, I wouldn't go that route.

EDIT: Oh, and when are you moving ATL? I'm moving at the end of May, so I figured if you'd be around we could meet up and do something. 

Great post. And obviously relevant. 
 
http://melissaridleyelmes.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/its-not-on-the-syllabus-cultivating-collegiality-as-a-graduate-student/

What's your AOI if you don't mind me asking?

I realized that there's no such thing as a safety school. Also, definitely apply to several MA programs, because even if you have a strong application as a BA student, it won't look as strong on paper as those with MA's (generally, but I wouldn't say this is a rule). 

University of Virginia! Just accepted their offer.

I don't have upvotes either, but thanks everyone!