Philosophy is the art of rational thinking. It is unique and different from other branches of knowledge in that knowledge is sourced from the application of logic and reason itself, whether critically or constructively. Philosophy aims to examine the assumptions underlying a belief system or a field of inquiry as well as find truths concerning nature’s reality itself.

An interesting thing about philosophy is that it does not teach what to think but rather how to think. And while some people think that studying philosophy cannot easily open doors for career opportunities, the intellectual exercise that comes with this study can actually be very useful in professions such as business, criminal justice, government, journalism, legal profession, public health, science and many others.  Moreover, it has also been found that Philosophy majors have a higher rate of passing in admission Law school, Graduate school and even medical school.

When studying Philosophy, you need to have the ability to reason. To further improve your philosophical reasoning, here are some things you can do:

Read Philosophical texts. Philosophy involves close reading of related texts written by major Western tradition philosophers. It may be initially daunting especially if you are new, or lack experience in this type of reading, as philosophical prose is especially crafted for its own purposes thus reading it requires more than mere reading. You should always make it a point to read the assigned texts, better yet, read more. Otherwise, you will not learn.  Keep in mind that you cannot develop and hone intellectual independence if you only rely on information from other people’s opinion.

Depending on your learning style, you should allow yourself enough to read the assigned materials. You cannot rush careful reading, so you may want to engage in the material at a slow but steady peace.

Engage in Philosophical dialogue. Studying philosophy entails the exercise of intellectual thought through dialogue and discussion. By reading the assigned materials beforehand, you can be able to engage in a productive and intellectual discussion, in which you can carefully think before you speak and pay more attention to what others say in the discussion.

When engaging in philosophical convo, always show respect for others. Give each other the ability to speak and listen to their points, taking down not just the weak points but also the worthwhile ones as well.  Always expect disagreement and criticism in expressed opinions. Discussions can become more interesting and productive as long as it is maintained in a healthy and proper way.

It does not matter what you say, the important thing is that you have something to contribute into the discussion. If you find that you are speaking too much, try to listen more. Also look for ways to contribute if you feel you are speaking less by asking questions, for instance. A philosophical discussion does not always have to be a clash of ideas but a cooperative activity in which one can learn from another.

Do philosophical writing. Studying philosophy also requires you to clearly and effectively put your points in writing. Writing is not just a good way to express your thoughts but also to let others discover who you are and learn from you as well. Understanding your reading materials can do a long way at being able to write clearly. Be clear and concise with your points, doing away with the shilly-shallies. Also, write to express, not to impress. Do not try to impress others or get others to approve of what you mean, what’s important is that you are able to clearly express your point, no matter what your writing style is.  Most importantly, never plagiarize.

So become a modern day philosophizer by following these three simple steps with diligence, hard work and of course, the heart for it too.