Proponents say you can do a lot with B.A. in philosophy

Universities require undergraduate students to wrestle with the intricacies of -isms -- nihilism, utilitarianism, existentialism among them -- but students and professors are increasingly finding the life examined worthwhile.

"What are my convictions worth if I don't have good reasons to back them up?" said Andrew Clapham, a Boston University College of Arts and Sciences junior who studies philosophy. "I see philosophy as a means to the truth, which is not some arbitrary answer to a tough riddle. Rather, it's a way of life."

Clapham said he thinks philosophy aid the filmmaking he also does by helping him find something meaningful to say. People who dismiss philosophy after one course frustrate him, he said, but he realizes it is not for everyone.

"I don't mind listening to someone bark about how bad they think philosophy is as long as I can voice my opinion too," he said.

General esteem for the reasoning, analysis and argument that takes place in academic settings may bring professors and students back to the ancients, but many students have their eyes on the future, like going to law school after graduation, some professors claim.

"Philosophy prepares you, among other things, to analyze and compose arguments," said philosophy department Chairman Daniel Dahlstrom. Law schools favor people who have the writing skills many philosophy majors pick up from writing papers and most CEOs of major corporations have humanities degrees, he said.

Philosophy undergraduates often go to medical and law schools because they do well on standardized tests, said Gary Hardegree, director of undergraduate studies of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst philosophy department.

"They can do both math and language," he said. "That's one of the things that philosophy is almost unique in, that it's not peculiarly humanities or science. It's kind of both."

Students and professors acknowledged that despite the perceived benefits of a philosophy education, others may think the field impractical.

"The first philosophy course is a big shock," Hardegree said. "It isn't just sitting under a tree talking about life. It's much more analytic and hard."

College of Communication junior Andrew Fatato, a philosophy minor, said his degree will help fulfill his school dreams.

"The logical hoops you have to jump through while studying philosophy might help with that," he said.

The philosophy department offers six major concentrations that combine philosophy with math, political science, classics, physics, psychology or religion. A background in philosophy can also be a stepping stone toward working in the public sector or in private industry, philosophy professors said.

Klaus Brinkman, a BU philosophy professor, said police departments and big oil companies are just some employers who seek philosophy doctorates to advise them in practical ethics.