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Degrees of Value: Making College Pay Off
Wall Street Journal ^ | Jan. 3, 2014 | Glenn Harlan Reynolds

Posted on 01/07/2014 6:29:39 AM PST by iowamark

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To: Slyfox
They all got a degree in philosophy because that was the only course offered.

What most people think is the most useless subject, as I once did, is actually the most valuable subject, along with theology.

The maxim of the supposedly benighted Middle Ages is true, "Theology is the queen of the sciences, and philosophy is her handmaid." --St. Thomas Aquinas.

It's understandable that philosophy has acquired a bad reputation in modern times, since modern philosophy is an incoherent mess. People are wise to reject it. Unfortunately, few have been exposed to good, classical philosophy.

21 posted on 01/09/2014 5:50:51 AM PST by St_Thomas_Aquinas ( Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: Stosh

My daughter is majoring in biology (pre-med) and dance at a top tier college and getting better than a 3.9 average. She is heart set on going to medical school. I told her to go dance - she will have a lot more fun, wont end up working for the government, and by the time Obama is through will make nearly as much money. Unfortunately she has her mothers hard head and is applying to med school....


22 posted on 01/09/2014 5:58:12 AM PST by Mom MD
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To: St_Thomas_Aquinas

a degree in modern philosophy allows you to ask why you want fries with that....


23 posted on 01/09/2014 6:00:05 AM PST by Mom MD
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To: proxy_user
In order to actually learn to read Latin and Greek easily, you still need the guidance of experienced instructors. And once you learn, and start reading classical texts, you still need guidance to understand the context and significance of what you are reading.

A solid, formal, classical instruction is of great value, but it's hard to find, and expensive. If you can't afford it, you can go a long way on your own. The Summa Theologica, for example, is available to read on-line for free. But that's the philosophical summum bonum. Fortunately, there are other sites, like the Thomistic Philosophy Page, that provide a good, quick overview of classical natural philosophy.

24 posted on 01/09/2014 6:11:21 AM PST by St_Thomas_Aquinas ( Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: St_Thomas_Aquinas

I had more in mind reading literary texts like Aeschylus and Pindar. Their Greek is really tough, you’ll be lost without an instructor. Even Plato can be quite difficult, with a very subtle use of conversational idiom.


25 posted on 01/09/2014 7:24:45 PM PST by proxy_user
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To: iowamark

Remedial English, Remedial Math, Remedial Science, Remedial Reading, Remedial Social Studies... heck some of those affirmative action kids probably needed remedial sex-ed.

lol


26 posted on 01/09/2014 7:27:26 PM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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To: nascarnation

It is interesting that so few kids touch type these days. They spend hours at the computer but still do the ‘hunt and peck’ method to type. They waste so much time.


27 posted on 01/09/2014 7:34:29 PM PST by ladyjane
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To: ladyjane

wasting time is what yoots do best


28 posted on 01/09/2014 7:38:58 PM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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