What are the main difficulties students have in philosophy?
Summary: • Grasping the structure of arguments • Realising that the subject is mainly about arguments, and deciding whether arguments are good ones. Karen: Some students find the emphasis on argument in Philosophy difficult to come to grips with. They may be more used to subjects where they mainly need to gather information about the topic. Philosophers raise difficult questions like, “What is the truth?” “What is the nature of right or wrong?” “What is wrong with killing?” “Does God exist?” These are questions that do not have simple uncontested answers. And we are not so much interested in the answers that students give to these questions. What’s important is the arguments that they give for their answers, and their ability to comprehend the arguments that others have given and deciding whether these are good arguments. Sometimes philosophy can be confusing. A good philosopher can develop a very persuasive argument for one conclusion, and then offer an equally persuasive argument for
