Philosophy Professor

A Philosophy Professor educates university-level students on the writings and logic of numerous Philosophers, and also composes his or her own papers on philosophic issues. As experts on big words and even bigger ideas, Philosophy Professors select a specialty and devote their career to understanding and expanding upon existing publications.

A typical day for a Philosophy Professor includes teaching at least one class of students. Most universities have general education requirements in philosophy, so you’re busy with both majors and non-majors. If you’re a traditionalist, then your classroom time is filled with lectures.

Maybe you believe in the Socratic method, in which case you encourage your students to engage in a healthy debate about the text and issues. To evaluate your students’ understanding of the material, you assign and grade papers.

Outside of the classroom, you ponder questions about the nature of morality, the legitimacy of knowledge, or the belief in a higher power. Whether you spend your days in solitude with Descartes or struggle with political theory in the works of Rawls, your own research and publications comprise the other half of your career. In order to gain renown in the philosophy community, you regularly publish papers and dissertations.

Your professional world is the academic culture of the university. As a great Teacher, you welcome students into your office for additional help. This job also requires that you participate in the greater university community through committees. This is the place you really explore your own understanding of philosophy with the assistance of your students.