Academic philosophy, it goes without saying, is increasingly seen as a venerable yet useless relic-a field of human inquiry relevant only at a bygone time, when science (as we know it today) did not yet exist. The scientific, techno-optimist mindset dominant in many circles today-with its emphasis on empirical testability and measurable results-is increasingly seen as the most effective, and efficient, method to address the concerns that have traditionally fallen under the purview of academic philosophy.
What excites you about philosophy? Its application to everything! As an undergraduate, I was able to conduct research with philosophy professors and a philosophy of psychology professor. Now I teach courses on topics such as philosophical engineering and computer science ethics. And because philosophy is the foundational intellectual discipline, I believe it contains all the resources universities need to navigate rapid changes in information technology, political upheaval, social reorganization, etc. By emphasizing deep reading, critical thinking, and embodied ethics,
Physics seems complicated, until you realize why it works so well, says physicist Sean Carroll, revealing the basis of the field's greatest successes: Radical simplicity. Carroll takes us from Newton's clockwork universe to Laplace's demon, to Einstein's spacetime revolution, exploring the historical shockwaves each breakthrough caused. If you've wondered how stripping the world down to its simplest parts can reveal deeper truths, this is where that story begins.