Philosophers are always the first targets of anti-intellectuals. People genuinely believe that studding what’s true about the world is a waste of time.

You can tell that this is a prejudice because the same people who think you shouldn’t get paid for having useless knowledge will still hire economists.

I’ll be real with you: philosophy seems like a bougie thing to major in.

It’s something you major in when you have a cushion that allows it.

Most people don’t have that cushion, so they get mad when they see someone who does use it.

Its because most of them don’t really know what philosophy is, so someone being a master of it makes them feel very insecure - like they’re cornered with a topic they know nothing about.

I think, because people think it’s a useless degree, because there is no industry or marketable jobs not phil that’s not from a university. Much like BA in psych or some Studies degree. There really isn’t jobs outside of academia for phil. I was in a philosophy course in college like 10+ years, a instructor recently finished his PhD, and seems to love it. But he has no permanent position, so he jumps from college to college teaching it, I was following his LinkedIn profile. On the other side, its probably propaganda against philosophy as too much on one side of the political spectrum, right wingers scoff and it quite a lot. Also it includes religions as part of the studies, so people find it very uncomfortable that it contradicts their religious beliefs

For a layperson, philosophy doesn’t have an obvious practical application. They think philosophers just sit around pondering esoteric topics and can’t imagine why anyone would pay them for it.

Anti intellectualism.

Well, there’s an anti-intellectual streak in the world. And, given the cultural trends of the last 20 years, it’s not getting smaller. So there’s that. Deep down some people will think you think you’re better than them. Deep down some people might be touchy about touchy about their level of education and tired to being lied and condescended to by people presenting themselves as cultural authorieies.

I think it’s cool! Congratulations on your two degrees. As to your question, I’m not sure why people would find it negative.

I suspect it’s any university degree that doesn’t have obvious “practical” benefits at this point (and even then).

Here is a quote, taken slightly out of context, that I believe speaks to what you are experiencing:

“The clinical picture of a person who has been reduced to elemental concerns of survival is still frequently mistaken for a portrait of the survivor’s underlying character.” - World Health Organization. (May 31, 2016). ICD-11 Beta Draft (Joint Linearization for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).

Extrapolating from that in this other context, we can assume more and more people are simply losing their capacity to entertain “loftier” ideals than immediate survival. For all too many, there was never any other choice.

I studied philosophy at university in the 80’s, and remember the endless jokes about what restaurant job I would be able to get with my degree, etc. It speaks to the hidden framework of capitalism that confines us all. It’s only gotten worse in my lifetime.

I look back at my parents, who were able to buy their own house and raise two kids with a single earner, blue collar wage. My mom did eventually work as well, which allowed us children to go to college.

Now I am close to retirement, and I have nothing to show for it. No house, no car, no big retirement payout waiting. I ‘squandered’ my money and time being an activist and humanitarian, living in the moment and refusing to produce or hoard wealth for the capitalist machine just because.

I try to use my philosophical insight as a practical methodology to remove myself from the clamor for crumbs. I am a minimalist, an environmentalist, a gardener, a handyman and helper, a teacher - a papa smurf to my community and philosopher to my peers. I wouldn’t trade it for all the money in the world, but I would be remiss to ignore the looming economic circumstances that threaten the future of humanity, myself included.

But I will forge ahead into this wilderness. As Deleuze and Guattari would say, forget reading someone else’s map, become your own cartographer. Philosophy is a great basis for profound understanding of the human condition. It won’t make you rich, and it certainly won’t be respected or understood in this modern world - but it will enrich you. If you follow your heart it can show you a path through the madness that does not require that you shed your humanity or reduce yourself to that of an economic survivor, victor, or victim, and can serve as a beacon for others less fortunate to have been afforded such a perspective.

I often share the story of Taigu Ryōkan, the Zen Master, who perfectly illustrates both the value of philosophical introspection, and it’s liberating effect from the confines of the material world.

https://laspina.org/the-thief-and-the-moon-a-zen-tale-in-ryokans-haiku/

I’ve known 3 philosophy majors that I know of.

One had a PhD and was absolutely insufferable. We were coworkers, and he’d often say falsehoods to try to be funny. Like, “Did you write that documentation I asked for?”, and he’d say like “I spent all morning writing it as a series of haikus”. I’m like, my guy, just answer the question. I’d ask him to stop being sarcastic so often in professional contexts and he’d be like “I’m not being sarcastic I’m being ironic.” You knew what I meant, Ryan!

He would also use language to say things that were tEcHnIcAlLy true. Like, “I finished that task (or 1 equals 1)”, except he had more subtle ones.

Was it because he was a philosophy PhD? Probably not. Some of his annoying habits he tied back to philosophy stuff, but he was probably just an asshole. But that’s who I think of (other than chidi)

The other one I knew was fine in a messy nihilist rich kid way. Fun at parties. Can’t be friends.

And the last one is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Just thoughtful and patient and a really positive person.

“The arts are useless and will make you a poor stupid leftist… Do a trade” <----- type of statemet that has been doing the rounds on the far-right since at least 2014.

Just speculating here, but I think the economic situation becoming much more difficult for many people might be a factor. When it’s hard finding a decent job even after studying something “good”, spending years of your life and possibly lots of money on a degree with no immediate economic benefits might seem like quite a ridiculous luxury.

I’m sure OP knows this, but there are many branches of philosophy. On the epistemology side, there’s usually more focus on meaning and knowledge. On ethics, focus on right and wrong. On logic, it’s closer to math and science.

Many people think philosophy just means sophistry and arguing, but each branch has practical applications too. Some of my philosophy major friends ended up going for PhDs. The only career path there was writing and teaching. For those who didn’t, it was to supplement some other degree.

For whatever it’s worth: in my 20s I went for the obvious/easy/high-paying career and have made enough money to retire early. But I deeply regret working for soulless corporations doing pointless bullshit tasks for 35+ years.

I’ve recently started reading an introductory philosophy book and I love it.