A response to "Why We Should Require All Students to Take 2 Philosophy Courses"

A Response to “Why We Should Require All Students to Take 2 Philosophy Courses”

            I have thought about this article for several days and wish to give my thoughts on this subject. I am inclined to agree with this article but only up to a certain point. Let me start by saying I am an older non-traditional student. My way of thinking has already been shaped by life and the types of jobs I have held. Free thinking was not needed or encouraged.  Upon entering college, I decided on Anthropology as a major. Most of what we read or report on deals with research and facts. I have had very few instances where I was required to think out of the box, so to speak. That is why I am in agreement that college students should be required to take at least one Philosophy class as a requirement. But I would recommend that instead of it being required as a lower division class, it be required as an upper division level class. This gives the student a couple of years to develop their own life experiences to help them understand and answer the philosophy questions posed to them. I also agree it would be beneficial to students if professors from other disciplines would add to their classes a little freer thinking along with what is taught. I know I would have enjoyed and benefitted from being able to think for myself while also dealing with facts.