The Dream's Assassin: March 2008

At first, I thought that I am to write about my melancholic worries about the death of Philosophy in this University. I must admit that I’ve taken much time to think about writing words of lamentation and despair. But when I come to think of it, the item slaps over my face that the necessary documents have been signed and there is no sense in crying over spilled milk. Moving on is part of growing up yet much things should not be left unanswered. And so I have decided to investigate and seek the real thing in the scenario.
Reality speaks and it utters, no, Philosophy has not been abolished but repackaged. They say that it is the wisest step to make philosophy appealing to the market of would-be-college-students. But this hasn’t been the question all the while. Some say that this repackaging is a psychological appeal to sustainability. It is true in a sense. With only twelve applicants for a course, would it survive? Taking the policy of this university, it cannot. Taking the university’s mission, it should suffice. But the questions remain: Is it reasonable? Is it not contrary to what the school really stands for? Is the reduction of philosophy into a mere element of an interdisciplinary course has its merits in the end? Is this the beginning of the death of Philosophy which is considered the mother of all arts and sciences? And so I leave these questions for you to ponder upon as you read the next lines...

Thesis: Philosophy will be totally scrapped!
Anti-thesis: There is no abolished course in CHS. Come what may, students of Bachelor of Philosophy and Bachelor of Philosophy and Legal Studies will be allowed to graduate in their respective courses. However, no new enrollees will be admitted in these courses. Applicants will be referred to two new courses, AB Legal Studies and AB Philosophy and interdisciplinary studies. According to Dr. Lilian Gandeza, CHS Dean, this course of action cannot be considered an to be an abolition.

Thesis: This step is a reduction of philosophy into a marketable commodity.
Anti-thesis: The thrust of the new course, AB Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies, is to hone students to be in a sense, jacks of all trades. It will be made up of subjects from philosophy, theology, education, computer, economics, and social sciences. Hence, it is deemed to attract more students. On the other new course offering, the title philosophy was scrapped from the original one to come up with a stronger pre-law course. According to Dean Gandeza, the latter was formed through the aid of lawyers who are part of the College of Human Sciences. She said that according to them, the current Philosophy and Legal Studies course is much tilted in Philosophy.

Synthesis: Philosophy has always been the key to understanding every field of study in their depths and essence. It is quite ambiguous to assume that it cannot sufficiently prepare a student to be a good lawyer or to be a man of many fields because it takes understanding before you see the essence of what you are doing. Let us just be thankful that the course is not totally scrapped. However, measures must be performed by the administration and those who believe in Philosophy. This measures must pertain to the promotion of Philosophy as a really rewarding enterprise. They say that Philosophy is an intimidating subject because it is speaking of things far from what an ordinary thinker can comprehend. I say that it is not because seriously speaking, it is part of our everyday existence. We philosophize when we wake up in the morning until we finally decide to go to sleep. Doing away with it is like eating an ice cream that is as hot as soup. I may be talking of small-scale experiences yet in a way, this petty thought reflects the larger scenario. I’m not saying that the decision to repackage the course is a mishap. Who knows what is better? And like Socrates, I am just a gadfly intending to wake up the mare by asking mere questions. Think… think… think…