Biology OR Philosophy?

[frebbb]

So the holidays have just started (YAY) and I really need to decide on my subject choices for next year (Year 12) during this break. I plan to do five subjects, and have  settled on four (English, Studio Art, Theatre Studies and Psychology) and am now stuck. I have an interest in both biology and philosophy, and know that I won't be able to handle doing six subjects, so it's important that I make a choice between the two. I don't know anyone who has done both in real life, and so I can't ask anyone at school to give me an unbiased opinion. So I thought I would enlist the help of the dear old VN members
If anyone could give me advice, personal stories, or even constructive criticism, that would be great!

[dinosaurs]

Just enroll in both, whichever one you dislike most dropout of. As for doing 6 subjects, from what i've been told it is not too overwhelming.

[newVCE2011]

I'd go with philosophy if I were you.

It's much more important to find yourself and your place in the universe than it is to learn about the shape of a cell. How is biology going to help you achieve integration and unity with the world around you?

I hope I've helped!

[Spheniscidaphile]

If it were me in your shoes and had to pick one, biology would be the go.
It may be easier to pick up biology in a school context than later on, should your interest take you there.  There are many easy avenues to pursue philosophy at uni or through other means, but not so many for biology streams.  Don't get me wrong, I didn't do biology, but did do VCE philosophy. I enjoyed it and would recommend you pursue your interest in it.  Just sayin' they both have their merits, and biology could provide some balance to the subjects you have chosen so far.

Also, if you really think about what you learn in biology, it could change your worldview as much as philosophy would. Biological systems are integrated into the world, after all. Aristotle was a biologist of sorts, as was Descartes, so there's no reason you couldn't see it as augmenting your future studies in philosophy.
 
There's also nothing to stop you reading philosophy on your own or with friends doing the subject, and discussing it.

while you're making up your mind, you might want to browse through the archive of these podcasts on philosophy and see what grabs your attention:

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/philosopherszone/index/date2011.htm#

http://philosophybites.com/past_programmes.html

[paulsterio]

Well considering that you're doing a lot of English-y subjects, you might enjoy doing Biology because it's more science based than your other subjects, it's always good to have variety I guess

[Water]

Apart from all these sci/maths guys above


I advocate Philosophy. It'll complement your English, in some areas such as Context. It'll also make you much more wiser and possibly see the world in a different aspect. These benefits will also pull  to your Studio Art, possibly making your designs, complex and deeper in meaning.




What can Biology help you in English or Studio Art? Where's your glutamismaximus now! @ Above Bio Lovers

[burbs]

Philosophy will be much more interesting, more applicable and useful (shock!) and work well with English.

[taqi]

Do philosophy! It gets you thinking much more about the world, makes you a critical thinker too. Ive never done philosophy, but I really should have instead of ...Geo.

Although the evolution part of biology is kinda like philosophy and knowing about where you came from. After all its basically the thing religion disagrees with.

[Menang]

I'm currently doing philosophy, and I would absolutely definitely recommend it to anyone. I'm trying to convince all my maths/science friends in younger year levels to do it! I picked up the 3/4 on impulse at the end of last year and now it's my favourite subject.

It's surprisingly applicable and useful to real life. Generally, I find humanities teachers must more passionate/competent than science ones (this is a generalisation, though). The content really is fascinating, and it does teach you to think in a critical way.

If it were me in your shoes and had to pick one, biology would be the go.
It may be easier to pick up biology in a school context than later on, should your interest take you there.  There are many easy avenues to pursue philosophy at uni or through other means, but not so many for biology streams.

Also, if you really think about what you learn in biology, it could change your worldview as much as philosophy would. Biological systems are integrated into the world, after all. Aristotle was a biologist of sorts, as was Descartes, so there's no reason you couldn't see it as augmenting your future studies in philosophy.
 
There's also nothing to stop you reading philosophy on your own or with friends doing the subject, and discussing it.

While philosophy on face value seems much more accessible to learn by yourself than biology, there's a real difference between reading a sparknotes summary of Aristotle and doing proper study and evaluation and ultimately deciding which stance you want to defend.

From experience, in Year 11, I chose to do Spesh Maths over International Politics because I thought 'hey- it's just politics and I follow it normally by watching the news and reading articles and stuff already. I don't need a whole subject to learn this stuff' and I was completely wrong. I ended up hating spesh and I regret not doing interpol.

[dinosaurs]

              Biology                                           Philosophy
Evolution, genetics and disease VS why am I here, like fucking fucking deeply-meaningful like, hipster as, like

Depends who you are, but Biology is definitely some pretty interesting stuff - especially when you can see what is learnt all around you/how it got here/how it all comes together

[EvangelionZeta]

The applicability of Biology depends on Philosophy: after all, how do we know that any of the theories in science are "true"?  How do we know if we can even apply or trust them at all?  Understanding biological systems might change the way you see nature, but understanding philosophy will change the way you understand reality.

[burbs]

The applicability of Biology depends on Philosophy: after all, how do we know that any of the theories in science are "true"?  How do we know if we can even apply or trust them at all?  Understanding biological systems might change the way you see nature, but understanding philosophy will change the way you understand reality.

Whose?



(this is one of the ways it will aid English).

[paulsterio]

EvangelionZeta, did you do VCE Philosophy? Can't see it in your signature!

[EvangelionZeta]

I did the 1/2, and audited 3/4. Was going to do it in year 12 initially, but VCAA banned me from doing it...

[Ghost!]

Wow! I'm really surprised at home many people are recommending Philosophy. It's interesting considering how few people actually do the subject...

As for your choice, I'd say Philosophy. In my opinion it's the best subject there is! Develops the idea of critical thinking, something pretty uncommon these days. Also, it looks like it suits the subjects you've already decided on.