Philosophy is so difficult to study

Karin... "Ethics will believe that either a) The ends justify the means, or b) The means justify the ends." That amused me; ethics in a nutshell Dream... a quick review of the various ethical positions might help you. Virtue ethics; Key figures, Aristotle, MacIntyre. Key concepts, Eudaimonia. Virtue ethics may be simply understood as the idea that character rather than rules govern ethics; a good man acts for the good. De-ontological ethics; key figure Kant and Ross. Key concepts. Treat others as an end-in-themselves never as a means to an end, make only those ethical rules that you can universalise, i.e. one law for all Consequetialism; Key figures, Bentham, Stuart-Mill, Singer. Key concepts, promote the greatest happiness for all whilst maintaining it is better to be Socrates unhappy that a pig that is happy! Recent trend in ethics include the notion of 'particularism' see Nusbaum And my own area of interest, creative morality all the best urban

@ urban. I like how karinxaaa gave the nutshell of ethics as you called it. I like that too. And thanks for classifying the people into deontological and consequentalists. do you major in philosophy? You seem to be very good in it.

Yes, it is really very subjective and my lecturer is not helping. and yes, you are right. I think i would definitely get it if someone explains what the author is trying to say because i realise that the authors uses simple words but the way the sentence is structured is slightly different from the English we use. And you are right again. I do study John, Kant etc. Okay, i'll take note to write the author's point in one sentence. i believe that would allow me to understand and remember each of them better. And the means justify the ends or the ends justify the means, has that something to do with consequentalist and deontology? Thank you for your response, it has really deepen my insight to philosophy and your advise really gave me more motivation to study my philo. Thank you!

@ lowloy, your response is very interesting with all the short form, such as AS

As a child I was diagnosed with Autism-Spectrum Sensory Integration Dysfunction, which is now called Sensory Perception Disorder. I remember being tested by people I assume were a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, and a psychologist. I had to complete all kinds of different tasks like filling a cup with water (couldn't do), catching a bean bag (couldn't do), putting letters of the alphabet in order (couldn't do), etc. I also had to answer a lot of questions about what sort of things (like feeding and dressing myself) I could or couldn't do. I assume this was some sort of practical test. I don't really know. My freshman year of highschool, all of records from middle school had been lost, so they had to re-test me. They just did an IQ test. IQ is based on many different facets from many different areas; mine ranged from 103 to 158. A gap of more than 50 points between IQs is considered a learning disability in the state of Kansas, even if no IQ is below 100. So i was labeled learning disabled, and they wanted to drop the AS label, but my mom showed them my school agenda, in which I had written everything backwards, and for some reason this convinced them I was still autism spectrum. I label myself high-functioning because... well... I can type this. So I'm clearly not low-functioning, right? I mean, I'm a 3.6 GPA college student, so I must be pretty high functioning, but admittedly, that is a label I have applied to myself. And glad I could help :)

Do you by any chance have the name or the author of that article? I'm high-functioning AS (sensory perception disorder), and would be very interested to read that. I also listen to my textbooks while reading them! I never thought about 'normal' people doing that though. Because AS is considered a learning disability at my university, I get all my textbooks on audio. It is very difficult for me to understand spoken word without lipreading or reading along in the text, but being able to hear the words while I see them is very helpful to me and helps me understand better than just reading.

To me, it is an interesting subject. But it is definitely a very difficult one to master.

at Davidkwan95, i admire your perseverance yeah i guess one just have to try his/her best to get through all the hardships in life. life isn't easy. good luck to you again Dream_ozn Happy Mylotting

I also always how some of my other classmates are able to understand philosophy. Like you, i hated philosophy too. I have been trying my best to listen to the lecturer in all his classes, but it gives me no help. Was i not focusing? Or is the subject really difficult!!! I also never want to see philosophy again!!!

yeah we feel the same. just focus more right now, and try your best. soon you'll get through it good luck on all of your exams

Hi, i am studying business in university currently. Perhaps people have different methods of studying a subject? For me, i don't think i will choose this subject should i have the choice. All students are 'forced' to take this course as it is a core subject of the university. Definitely, people who love whatever they do will excel in it. I do have my textbooks with me, i read them before class, pay attention during class and listen to the lecturer. And thank you for reminding me that i can use the internet to download study materials!

Wow, in Italian. Are you from italy or do you just study philosophy in Italian? Than you for your method, and i will definitely try it out!

I'm from Italy - I believe it would be almost impossible to study philosophy in Italian for someone who doesn't speak italian as a first language. Sometimes I have to look up in the dictionary the meaning of many "philosophical terms"! About some of the comments I have read on this post, I would like to point out that Philosophy IS a subject, and it consists in studying the life and thoughts of philosophers from the origins (Greek philosophers) until present. It may be fascinating for some and extremely boring for others, but remains a subject, and quite an important one. Don't know about other countries, but in Italy it is a compulsory subject in many high schools, where it's taught from the 2nd to the 5th year.

It's really cool to be speaking in Italian. i have always wanted to learn that language. I took an introduction to Italian (far from the real italian) and it was extremely difficult. English is my first language and i already find it very difficult to study philosophy and you did philosophy in Italian! Awesome. Indeed, philosophy is a subject and yet, it is really an important one. Like what you said, my school also makes it a compulsory module for all students. I am so lucky to need to take only once but you need to take it for 4 years, from 2nd to the 5th!! GOod luck

Yes, i do agree with you that it is one of the most fascinating subjects. In my textbooks, there are many philosophers who writes using jargon and technical terms making it all the more difficult to understand who they are trying to argue. I am indeed a beginner but i will listen to your words and not despair. I believe a better teacher for me is the internet rather than my teacher who does not helps at all. Plus, i will remember to keep questioning and questioning! Thank you

I am currently taking what is called to be Philosophy 107 in my school! It really require us to think alot and it is not pure thinking, but thinking in the way of morality which makes it all the more difficult!