GE Philosophy: Thinking about Thinking

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_inset=”0px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_inset=”0px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ _order=”0″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”4/5″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]

Howdy everyone,

Well it’s February now, and the semester is plugging along. So far it’s been raining way more than we’re used to out here, but it’s not too bad. Some people aren’t a fan and miss the sunshine, but I think it’s a nice change of pace – it keeps us locals on our toes! Aside from staying dry, I’ve had a good amount of work so far, but I’ve been able to balance that out with enjoying myself, getting to go to movies, sport games, concerts, and the like.

Before I know it, it’ll be Spring Break, and I’ll have some time off working for a while. I’m currently trying to figure out exactly what I’ll be doing over break, but regardless of where I end up, just being able to relax is the most important part. But until then, it’s onward with the semester! My classes are all interesting so far, which is nice; there isn’t a single class this semester I don’t at least find somewhat enjoyable. While my engineering coursework is fascinating and important, one class I’m enjoying a surprising amount is one of my GE’s – philosophy.

Before enrolling in this course, I was a bit wary. Philosophy isn’t something I’ve studied much before, so I’d be trying something completely new. I also had some concerns about the amount of reading (or more importantly, how understandable the reading is), or whether I’d be able to wrap my mind around the grand scope of the ideas being discussed. Lucky for me, this wasn’t the case at all. I’m fortunate enough to have a professor who is able to explain the most complicated of concepts in the simplest of terms, while still hitting all they key points. The reading isn’t too demanding, but rather, is actually enjoyable, because it’s teaching me wisdom and skills that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Being able to think through complicated theories given a set of premises is a skill of great importance to engineers, but this class is increasing my ability to apply these skills to argument, judgments, and every aspect of life.

So I guess that’s my takeaway from all this. Engineering classes are important, and enjoyable, and will stick with you for years to come. However, your GE’s don’t need to be a burden. Once in a while, every engineer needs a break from solving differential equations and analyzing process diagrams. If you choose your GE’s wisely, you’ll get a chance to learn about diverse fields that truly interest you, and take classes you otherwise may not get the chance to – and those courses will stay with you just as long as your engineering ones.

[/cs_text][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/5″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_custom_headline level=”h5″ looks_like=”h5″ accent=”false” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”color: hsl(0, 95%, 18%);”]About the Author[/x_custom_headline][x_image type=”circle” src=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Jacob-Toney-CHE-2021-e1530162561484.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/jacob/” title=”” target=”blank” info=”popover” info_place=”bottom” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=”Jacob Chemical Engineering ’21”][cs_text class=”cs-ta-center”]Jacob is a sophomore studying Chemical Engineering. Click above to find out more![/cs_text][cs_icon_list][cs_icon_list_item title=”@j.w.toney” type=”instagram” link_enabled=”true” link_url=”https://www.instagram.com/j.w.toney/” link_title=”@j.w.toney” link_new_tab=”true” style=”font-size:18px;”]@j.w.toney[/cs_icon_list_item][/cs_icon_list][x_gap size=”50px”][x_custom_headline level=”h5″ looks_like=”h5″ accent=”true” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”color: hsl(0, 95%, 18%);”]Check it Out[/x_custom_headline][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/che.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/study/chemical-engineering/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_button size=”mini” block=”true” circle=”false” icon_only=”false” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/study/chemical-engineering/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””]Chemical Engineering[/x_button][x_gap size=”30px”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/los-angeles_1.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/free-time/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_button size=”mini” block=”true” circle=”false” icon_only=”false” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/free-time/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””]LA Life[/x_button][x_gap size=”30px”][x_image type=”thumbnail” src=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/USC-campus-Hahn-plaza.jpg” alt=”” link=”true” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/orgs/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][x_button size=”mini” block=”true” circle=”false” icon_only=”false” href=”https://viterbivoices.usc.edu/orgs/” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””]USC Campus Faves[/x_button][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”false” marginless_columns=”false” class=”cs-ta-left” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column bg_color=”hsla(0, 27%, 74%, 0.03)” fade=”true” fade_animation=”in-from-bottom” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”true” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”color: hsl(0, 96%, 23%);”]More From Viterbi Students[/x_custom_headline][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_recent_posts type=”post” count=”2″ offset=”” category=”” orientation=”horizontal” no_sticky=”true” no_image=”false” fade=”true”][x_recent_posts type=”post” count=”2″ offset=”2″ category=”” orientation=”horizontal” no_sticky=”true” no_image=”false” fade=”true”][x_recent_posts type=”post” count=”2″ offset=”4″ category=”” orientation=”horizontal” no_sticky=”true” no_image=”false” fade=”true”][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]