How to Study for Philosophy Exams
Students who are new to philosophy often ask how to prepare for
a philosophy examination. Here are a few tips. If you faithfully abide by these
guidelines, you should do well on the exams.
Tip #1: Write!
Rather than simply staring at your notes for some length of time, you should
actually write out answers to questions that you give yourself. That is, you
should be able to explain––in complete sentences (no "outlines,"
or shorthand)––how a certain argument works, how an objection to
it works, how a certain objection connects with another view, why someone with
position X would object to view Y in this way, etc. The surest test of whether
you have internalized the material is whether or not you can organize the information
into clearly written paragraphs. If you can do this, I think you will find that
the exam answers come easy.
Tip #2: Don’t Simply Memorize
Philosophy, you will notice, is not about memorizing names, dates, equations,
facts, etc. (Of course, you will have to memorize some things, such
as the names of certain views/positions/theses, etc.) Rather, it is a skill,
and like all skills it requires a bit of practice. When studying, you should
focus on understanding the arguments, understanding the reasoning,
or why someone would adopt a certain view, and how s/he would argue for it.
Simply memorizing what the view is will not get you very far, for understanding
a view is quite different from simply memorizing some things about it. Philosophy
emphasizes reasoned defenses, and the exams are aimed at making sure you understand
the reasoning behind certain positions.
Tip #3: Discuss!
Philosophy is an interactive sport. Study with classmates. Discuss the strengths
and weaknesses of a certain philosophical view. Discuss with your professor.
I think you will find that you understand the material better after bouncing
explanations and ideas off others.
Tip #4: Start Early
Another important key to doing well on a philosophy exam is stay on top of the
material. No matter how good you think you are at "cramming"––i.e.
memorizing the night before––it is unlikely that this approach will
work in philosophy. Again, philosophy is a skill more than anything else, and
this type of skill cannot be developed in a day or two. You should never
let anything pass in class that you do not understand. Ask questions, and
review your notes often. Make sure you understand the material as we go
along. Do not wait until the week of the exam! Again, if you follow this
incredibly easy-to-follow tip, you should not have any problem with the exams.
Last Updated: 1/16/03