Philosophy has always been an unconventional choice for a major — at least within my social circle. Everyone I know has opted for a more traditional route — pursuing finance, business analytics, or economics — my entire family included. That being said, I’ve watched my brothers pursue successful careers in private equity, and most of my friends land jobs at top-tier investment banking firms — the ultimate step for Wall Street aspirants. And, while I am well aware that their initial base salaries are way beyond what I could ever dream of, I don’t regret my choice at all.
Studying philosophy, or any of the humanities for that matter, has given me something that artificial intelligence cannot replace: a closer understanding of what makes us human. And in a time when AI can solve almost any technical problem, understanding what makes us uniquely human becomes all the more valuable.
Seeing a “data-driven decision” that was actually a value judgment in disguise. Translating a complex situation into a framing that makes everyone in the room suddenly understand it — because rhetoric was your training ground. Knowing how to think, how to write, how to communicate, which questions to ask — these things, I believe, will be the crux of life when AI has overtaken all realms except that of humanity.
This might be my internal coping mechanism trying to face the fact that I won’t become a millionaire any time soon, but I truly believe that now is the time when the humanities regain their long-lost relevance in society.
Now is the time when questions like: “What would Bostrom think?”, “What would Confucius’ advice be?”, “What dystopia would Orwell predict?” and “What tragedy might Wilde illustrate?” need to take precedence over questions like “How do I use Excel to calculate this?,” “How do I maximize my ROI?”, and “How do I compile a market size report?”.
Seeking answers to the former produces meaning; seeking answers to the latter produces output.
Humanities — the world is finally asking the questions only you can answer. Encourage society to turn to you when seeking purpose and meaning. Remind us of our worth and value in a world that seems to convince us that we are replaceable. Ironically, as AI gets stronger, so too will you.
Philosophy, you’ve done a great job at preparing me for what’s to come. Thank you.
