Purple Haize wrote: ↑May 11th, 2020, 10:33 pm
Yes and no. It’s certainly not a high volume career field that’s for sure. But it does take Philosophers to ask and ponder questions that need to be asked and pondered. If they are not trained from an Evangelical or Christian point of view, where will they be trained? How will future generations “know thyself’ if they have no one to train them?
https://members.classicalconversations. ... philosophy
I don't think it's necessary to have a degree (let alone a graduate degree) in philosophy to be the kind of philosopher the world and the church needs. It's like how film directors, or composers, almost never are graduates of film schools or music schools --- they are simply outlier talent (or had connections to get their start). There are great thinkers in all walks of life, and that is more important than formal training in thinking.
I suspect that the theology, political science, English, and history departments at Liberty will probably embed philosophy within their disciplines, making a separate department unneeded. I also suspect that lack of demand for philosophy degrees and classes probably was a main driver of the decision to eliminate the department.
I checked BYU's philosophy classes, and man, I had no idea! Especially with the specialized 300-400 level ones at about mid-page.
https://catalog.byu.edu/humanities/phil ... losophy-ba
I think you're right that being a polymath in many areas makes one more able to "be all things to all people," as Paul taught. I found being able to intelligently discuss philosophy, art, history, political science, etc. were very helpful in being able to share the gospel as a missionary in Germany in the 1990s --- especially to highly educated people who thought we were hayseed rubes. But, in the end, the Spirit is the most important. While Paul could quote Greek and Roman philosophers to audiences in Asia Minor, the "heart" of the Church was the unlettered disciples who spoke barbaric Greek, but who had the Spirit with them.
What will happen to students who are "grandfathered in" (who are midstream in a philosophy degree)? Will the elimination be phased out to let them finish?