How to Excel in Undergraduate Philosophy: A Guide for Knowing Where to Start, How to Excel, and Lessons on Application

By Emma Sondergaard Jensen

Søndergaard Jensen believes that philosophy is a transformational discipline that is supportive of life's greatest endeavors.

The choice to study philosophy is a choice of persistence. Philosophy is, admittedly, an acquired taste of study. Still, philosophy is indispensable for personal and academic development. No progress comes without an initial question or a critical thought concerning change.

Philosophy inspired Søndergaard Jensen to start her podcast Emma-ism and begin her mission to make philosophy accessible to all and enjoyable to learn. The Emma-ism premise is to collaborate, create, and celebrate. This book is a manifestation of that mission, and she hopes it will serve as a resource and guide that will be referred to again and again by students of philosophy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Dec 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667870175

Book preview

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How To Excel in Undergraduate Philosophy

A Guide for Knowing Where to Start,

How to Excel, and Lessons on Application 

Copyright © 2022

Emma L. Søndergaard Jensen

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form, or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, Emma Søndergaard Jensen, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, please reach out to the author online.

First Edition

2022

ISBN: 978-1-66787-016-8 (Paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-66787-017-5 (eBook)

"They love the truth when it enlightens them

but hate it when it accuses them."

St. Augustine of Hippo, The Confessions, 10.23.34

Contents

Introduction

Motivation for this Book

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Section I. What is Philosophy?

Introduction to Philosophy

Analytic vs. Continental Philosophy

Great 10 Starter Reads in Philosophy

What the Major Looks Like

Section II. How to Excel in Philosophy

Introduction

How to Read Philosophy

How to Construct a Logically Valid Deductive Argument

Writing a Successful Philosophy Paper

Analytic Philosophy Essay Tips

Example Essay I: A Defense of Boyd’s Scientific Realism

Continental Philosophy Essay Tips

Example Essay II:Our Prodigal Human Nature

Recurring and Great Motifs to Reference

Ways to Effectively Participate in Seminars

The Importance of Connecting with Your Professors

Section III. Life Beyond the Classroom

Philosophy as a Way of Life, Pierre Hadot

Applying the Socratic Method

Ethics Crash Course

Coherence and Belief

Philosophy and Politics: An Applied Essay

Philosophy and Religion: An Applied Essay

Philosophy and Education: An Applied Essay

Conclusion

Concluding Remarks

Appendix

References and Superscript Notes

How to Excel in Undergraduate

Philosophy

Introduction

Motivation for this Book

Dear Reader,

I absolutely love philosophy, and I want to share that love with you. I wrote this book to help students understand the discipline of philosophy, and the basic tools needed to succeed in undergraduate philosophy classes. In this book, you will find context, overviews, examples, and explanations. I hope you find that useful and encouraging.

I believe that philosophy is a transformational discipline that is supportive of life’s greatest endeavors. Philosophy has given me the foundation to accomplish dreams that I never would have imagined in my years prior to committing to the major in my freshman year.

Philosophy inspired me to start my podcast Emma-ism and begin my mission to make philosophy accessible to all and enjoyable to learn. The Emma-ism premise is to collaborate, create, and celebrate. This book is a manifestation of that mission and I hope it will serve as a resource and guide that will be referred to again and again.

I also believe philosophy needs to be a core component of education and taught throughout all levels of the education system. Reflecting on my personal experience, often, I witnessed students being taught what to think and not how to think. As a result, when high school students enter college, they are shocked by the freedom of opinion that they are permitted to share, but they are also frustrated that they do not have the skills to defend those newly cultivated opinions. Unless a student seeks out courses that teach critical writing skills and logical argument formation, they struggle in college in face of newfound acceptance of their opinions.

This is not a new problem. History demonstrates the dangers of being told what to think and not how to think. One example of this was chronicled in the trial of Socrates. Socrates was put to trial by Meletus on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth. Socrates was not a Sophist. Sophists were paid to teach high-ranking Athenian men what to think. They also taught the men rhetoric. The men tutored by Sophists made up juries in Ancient Greece – the same juries that served in the trial of Socrates.

Socrates was a teacher of philosophical thought and taught his students how to logically arrive at a conclusion. This is what we call the Socratic Method. Socrates did not teach the youth what to think. Those in power thought that Socrates was dangerous because they feared that Socrates was creating power through the proliferation of critical thought --and with that thought, potential challenges to authority. They sentenced him to death. The outcome was devastating.

If philosophy is taught from a young age, students will develop critical thinking and writing skills that will aid them in their intellectual development beyond the K-12 education system. The continued practice of philosophy will offer immense freedom of thought and creativity to those who engage and will reorient the imagination of the youth toward not only living a better life, but hopefully also being better people.

Another benefit to be gained from the inclusion of philosophy in the earlier stages of education is teaching the love of learning and value of pondering important questions of how we ought to live. Without the influence of philosophy on education, we lose the opportunity to cultivate an understanding of morality and what a good life includes and demands. Because there is no concrete framework to teach how we should evaluate our life projects and commitments to schools of morality, there is increased animosity toward others who do not share a common view. If students are taught how to approach differing opinions on morality, and components of a good life, they will exercise greater charity and collaboration with each other, which in turn will promote inclusivity.

The problem that students are still being taught what to think and not how to think is also my motivation for continuing my podcast. I want to help individuals who are interested in philosophy expand their knowledge in the field. My hope is similar for the outcomes of those who read this book. I intend for this guide to help high school and young undergraduate students navigate finding a passion in philosophy and be encouraged to pursue philosophy as a major. It is an extremely applicable field and indispensable (in my opinion) to the project of leading a good life.

My last motivation is tangential to the education argument. Full disclosure here: I am still an undergraduate student. I do not have a PhD, but I do have experience within the undergraduate program, and I believe that I have something valuable to share. I wanted to write this book as an example for other aspiring undergraduates. My dream was to publish a book, written from the student perspective, that would help other students develop a passion for and eventually decide to study my passion –philosophy!

But when you boil this book down to the very basics of what it exactly is, this book is a guide for students by a student. I am experiencing the undergraduate philosophy experience right now, and I want more philosophy student peers! Philosophy, I believe, is an extremely undersold field of study. So, my project has been to share my love of the discipline and present my best cases for why it is not as unattainable or inapplicable of a field of study as others may think, and why everyone should at least be interested in exercising the practice of critical thinking, writing, and speaking.

If you read this book and end with a lasting impact, I hope it is that philosophy is an indispensable piece of life’s puzzle. Philosophy is what I love to study, and I hope this sentiment is evident throughout this book. I hope that by the end of this book, you will be equipped with the right tools to start your journey and eventually learn to love the pursuit of knowledge.

Thank you for reading my book and giving me a chance to transform the field of education.

Best Regards,

Emma Søndergaard Jensen

Acknowledgements

Before commencing, I would like to extend acknowledgements to everyone who has always encouraged me to follow my dreams –whatever they may be.

To my mother and father, thank you for supporting me throughout my life and encouraging me to study and pursue what I love. Mom, I could not have written this book, or gotten into philosophy without you. You are the original philosopher of the family, and I will never forget your description of the ‘Allegory of the Cave’ to my seven-year-old self.  Your undergraduate and graduate studies in philosophy and endless encouraging have allowed me to pursue my degree in philosophy with an incredible role model who has done it before.

Dad, you have always taught me that a work ethic and focused effort will always pay off.  You also gifted me the book that shaped my initial critical thinking capacity –Outliers.¹ Outliers: The Story of Success shaped my idea of what it means to be successful and what actionable steps I can take to make an impact on communities that matter the most to me. With that, Malcolm Gladwell posits that it takes 10,000 hours to become a phenom –and that is what I am trying to do here with philosophy. This book is part of my 10,000 hour-long explorations into philosophy and developing great knowledge of it. Regardless of the introduction you made with Outliers, Dad, thank you for ensuring my success with your endless support.

Mom and Dad, I would not be able to pursue my passion if it were not for the love you both give me. I thank you both endlessly and I am most grateful for you two. 

To my brother, you have always pushed me to be better. Competition is in the nature of the dynamic of being siblings who are so close in age. Ever since we were competing to finish the Newton South high school mathematics curriculum first and studying to score higher than the other on the math SAT, you have set a fire for success under my will. You may have won the mathematics competition, eventually skipping two grades to meet me, one grade above, in the same BC Calculus class, but you always were willing to help me whenever I asked. In that way, you taught me the best ways to meet your competitors in the middle and help everyone achieve their goals –no matter what. I have you to thank for fostering a healthy competition that has conclusively led me to where I am today. 

For the rest of my family, thank you for your support and encouragement in my academic journey. From entering college as a Wildcat at Villanova to deciding to switch trajectories and continue philosophy as a Quaker at Penn, I have always been able to rely on all your love and support. To my best high school and undergraduate friends who have been motivators, thank you also for continuing to put effort into our relationships and creating such great memories that will last my lifetime.

I would also like to extend gratitude to my professors at Villanova and the University of Pennsylvania. I always appreciate your guidance; your teachings will always stick with me as I navigate through my academic and personal journeys.

Finally, thank you to the supporters of my podcast. I am a very lucky podcaster to have so many listeners who are as invested in philosophy as I am. Every release, I always have some listeners come to me, giving their two cents about the topic and I love that. Without your eagerness to learn philosophy and listen to the podcast, I would have never thought about writing a book –or even publishing any kind of philosophy at that. Thank you to those listening and newcomers who are reading this book. I hope that it provides the clarity that you are looking for.

I appreciate the endless support from all these avenues and more. I am very lucky to be so encouraged in my pursuits.

About the Author

Emma Søndergaard Jensen is a Candidate for a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania (Class of 2024). She is also a Candidate for a Master of Bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. She is the creator of the Emma-ism philosophy podcast. The weekly podcast reaches over 1,000 listeners around the world.

Emma spent her freshman year at Villanova University where she studied business, but gained an interest in philosophy, eventually picking it up as a second major. Accordingly, at Villanova, she studied Continental Philosophy. After studying The Extended Mind Thesis, Confessions, and Philosophy as a Way of Life, she knew that philosophy was a discipline that she wanted to take seriously.²

The Extended Mind Thesis inspired Emma because she is partially deaf and wears hearing aids. The thesis empowered her to reflect on her impairment from an existential viewpoint and contemplate an understanding of herself and the role her hearing aids play in connecting her body with her surroundings. The Extended Mind Thesis prompted her to ultimately declare a philosophy major.

Emma transferred to the University of Pennsylvania in the Fall of 2021 to continue her philosophical studies. At Penn, she has had the privilege of taking philosophy courses about philosophy of science, ethics, and epistemology, among others.

Emma loves Penn and is a part of many communities on campus. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Undergraduate Fellowship of the Collegium Institute as Treasurer, and has also participated in their fellowships –namely, Catholic Humanism, and Philosophy of Finance. She also wrote articles for the Collegium’s Commonplace Book in Spring 2022 and Fall 2023 about the philosophy in the Confessions of St. Augustine. Outside of studying philosophy both in and outside the curriculum, Emma is a Writing Fellow at the Mark’s Family Center for Excellence in Writing. She is the Artistic Director for Penn Ballet and loves to dance. Emma also is a part of Phi Alpha Delta, international pre-law fraternity, the John Marshall Pre-law Honors Society, and Sigma Kappa, a sorority.

Emma loves philosophy and hopes to share that love with you all. She thanks you for supporting her mission of sharing the love and practice of philosophy with others.

How to Excel in Undergraduate

Philosophy

Section I.

What is Philosophy?

Introduction

to Philosophy

The word, philosophy, comes from the Greek roots of -philo (love) and -sophos (wisdom). Hence, philosophy directly translates to the love of wisdom.

Its legacy, as the love of wisdom, lives on in contemporary intellectual pursuits. Philosophy is an interdisciplinary intellectual tradition. It is intertwined with mathematics, science, politics, and religion among other various subjects. Some of the main (broad) branches of philosophy include epistemology, logic, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics.

Scholars tend to credit Ancient Athens as the birthplace of Western philosophy. Initially, philosophy was introduced to explain the foundations of science. The first philosopher, Thales of Miletus (approx. 600 B.C.) was a mathematician who theorized about science and the philosophy of existence.³ His practice spurred other philosophers to take on questions about being, time, our relationship to the divine, and society. This initial scientific inquiry was the start of western philosophy.

Scholars split western philosophy into two main time periods: the pre-Socratic and the post-Socratic. The timeline of western philosophical is divided in this way mostly because the content of what was studied differed so greatly, but also because the methodology for questioning changed. Though this timeline anoints Socrates the father of philosophy, the pre-Socratics practiced philosophy in groundbreaking ways.

The pre-Socratics tackled foundational questions. For instance, the pre-Socratic evaluation of opposing views on the status of change is still discussed. Indeed, the philosophies of Heraclitus and Parmenides are championed by contemporary philosophers. Heraclitus believed that everything changed while Parmenides held that nothing changed.⁴ Both views were adopted by contemporary philosophers, illustrating the pre-Socratic influence on the current landscape of philosophy, thousands of years later. The post-Socratics were philosophers who came after Socrates. The two most iconic Ancient Greek philosophers that followed Socrates were Socrates’ student, Plato, and Plato’s student, Aristotle.

Philosophers in Ancient Greece taught