In the following Q-and-A, senior Dan Yates shares some of his experiences as a philosophy major.
What have you enjoyed most about being a philosophy major at Illinois State University?
I’ve enjoyed having my beliefs challenged and becoming accustomed to thinking about things critically. Everybody should study philosophy for these reasons.
If you had to take one—and only one—philosophy book or article to a desert island, which one would it be?
Probably Plato’s Republic or something random that I’ve never read before.
Do your friends and family know that you study philosophy?
Yes, although I’m not sure many of them know what that means. Some of my friends are interested in philosophy.
What other majors did you consider?
Computer science and German.
What are you plans after graduation?
I am staying in the area and will be continuing work at my current job. I will continue to study philosophy independently in the meantime.
