September 24, 2001
Dear Norman,
I liked your article, but I'm not sure whether I'd say philosophy
is a sort of "blood sport." Certainly many phil. profs I knew
were not exactly what corporate America might be looking for when
it tries to recruit "people-people," but this aspect of the
profession is something I envy about it. As I look for
employment and surf through long internet job ads telling me I
should not only be skilled, but should be something akin to the
image of Mary Poppins ("Cheerful," "Energetic," a "Self-Starter,"
a "Multi-Tasker"), I look back on philosophy and I wish I had
gotten a graduate degree so I could go through a job application
process that is truly based on merit (not bullshit) and enjoy
colleagues who are being paid to be philosophers (not Poppinses.)
Cheers,
Jane B. Doe
Note: the author's name and address have been withheld at her request. —Norman Swartz
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