I’ve been contemplating a series of posts that cover the basics of academic philosophy. It’s been over two and a half years now since I’ve been in a philosophy classroom, and as I predicted at that time, I have in no way become a professional philosopher. Still, the process of learning the basics of the discipline has had a profound affect on the course of my life.
Ironically, I might have been happier and more confident had I not studied philosophy. And yet, I am absolutely certain that I was improved by my efforts.
Readers may be interested to know that I had intended to continue my education after getting my bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and go on to become a rabbi. My philosophy education gave me the tools to analyze my own beliefs in ways I had never before imagined, and this changed me irrevocably.
Since I deconverted to a humanistic, atheistic world-view, life has been a struggle. I was ethically constrained from pursuing my chosen vocation, and I’ve not found another to take its place.
Although I’m not making much money yet and it’s hard not to overspend my meager earnings, it beats working sixty and seventy hour weeks. Who would want to sacrifice the limited time allotted to him, who has a loving wife, and children who need to play? It is for them that I’m not still in school pursuing a doctorate – so I enjoy the advantages of what I have.
I was thinking of starting with some posts on basic logic, then graduating to some concepts and theories in epistomology, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and critical thinking.
Better writers have already posted on such things in the blogosphere— but none have the snaars charm that will make the whole project so interesting! 
