No One Right Answer by Hunter

No One Right Answer by Hunter - January 2023 Scholarship Essay

I believe an elective that should be required is philosophy. I find myself hearing multiple stigmas about Philosophy and it only pertaining to unneeded arguments about topics people are too lazy to think about. This is why philosophy is so important. Too frequently nowadays are people who do not want to face problems or questions that force them to have discussions with other people. A society that fears conflict is one that is far too prone to disaster. The discussions that are addressed in any Philosophy class force the students to think about their own choices in life whether it be the existence of a God of some sort or if people really have free-will? That is what is so great about Philosophy.

The questions that are brought up are not commonly thought about in todays society due to the fear of repercussions of online cyber-bullying or judgement outside of the classroom. That is why making philosophy a norm will allow these safe spaces to be made without fear of judgement and more of a inspiration for questions one might have. And that's the funny thing about philosophy. When questions are asked, there is never a definitive answer. Everyone's interpretations of the questions are equally important, and no one answer over powers the rest. This way of thinking readies students for real-world situations that may not have one right answer and instead allows for a productive culmination of ideas from a variety of perspectives in order to come to a rational conclusion. This way of interacting with people is exactly what society needs today and for the younger generation to experience this way of interacting will enhance the possibility of well-prepared individuals to succeed in the real world.

This is why I really, truly believe philosophy should be a required elective in school. Not just for its outside appearance of being a required course, but for its beneficial and extremely important qualities it possesses and can give to succeeding students. Whether or not it is viewed the same by everyone, I am confident the world would benefit by questions with no one right answer.