🚀 go-pugleaf

In <1993Jan10.234752.4562@news.eng.convex.com> cash@convex.com writes:
> Ah, but do you ask them why they want to get a graduate degree in
> philosophy? I would caution all and sundry that your motives had best not
> include making a living as a philosopher.
 
Well, even if I forget to give that particular speech, the APA won't.  It still
asks graduate departments to send to all applicants that dreary & discouraging
form letter that says, roughly, "You think you're gonna get a JOB in
philosophy?  HA Ha ha hahahahahahahahahahaha......"  So if a student applies to
10 schools, 10 copies of that letter show up.  Blah!  I'm surprised ANYONE ever
decides to go to grad school in philosophy.

  For every philosophy Ph.D. who is
> successful at doing this (like our very own Dr. Ruth), there are dozens who
> must resign themselves to lesser lives, toiling among the masses (such as
> your humble correspondent). 

Well, Peter, let me assure you that those of you living such "lesser lives,
toiling among the masses" probably have a helluva easier time paying off your
student loans.  :-)

Just for comparison on that point, the esteemed institution at which I earn my
rent payments pays me (mid-range assistant prof) $8000/year less than I would
earn if I were an elementary school teacher in this state.  Or rather, that's
how much it WOULD be paying me if I weren't on only 3/4 salary this year (a
move VERY strongly recommended by my dept chair in order to "buy myself some
writing time" in order to bolster my publications so that I don't "perish" when
my publish-or-perish day o' reckoning arrives).  %^O


------------------------
Ruth Ginzberg <rginzberg@eagle.wesleyan.edu>
Philosophy Department;Wesleyan University;USA