The Smoker is holding a discussion on the subject, "What bad advice about grad school or the job market have you been given? Or good advice?" Without overlapping with their discussion too much, I thought it might be good to have a similar discussion here not focused on grad school or the job market, but rather on philosophy and professional life in philosophy in general.
What's the best/worst advice you think you received as a philosopher? And, what's the best/worst advice you think you've received as a professional? I've given a bunch of examples of my own before. Among the best advice I've received (and/or discovered!):
- Be a good member of the profession. When in doubt, try to help others!
- Read widely (i.e. outside of your AOS/favorite areas).
- Write daily
- Send out a lot of work to journals (also see here)
- Floundering at the dissertation stage can be a necessary evil
- Ask for help from mentors when in need
- After you earn the PhD, trust yourself as a philosopher
Among the worst advice I've received?
- Give up (there were times I thought about it -- but I'm glad I haven't!) :)
And you all? What's the best/worst advice you've received in philosophy?
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