Studying Philosophy

I am going back to school in s few days and getting my Master's degree in Philosophy.

I know this is not a practical move.

But I've worked for both corporations and start-ups for the past 7 years, that have been completely uninspiring. I can explain why in more detail later. Though I have always somehow made it work, it has always come at a high cost, and while not at work, I tried desperately to squeeze in hours of fun into every other second of my day in order to compensate for the dreariness of the day.

Since I am prone over analysis and over thinking, which should serve me well as a Philosophy student, I have given some thought about some of the trade-offs.

Two Big Ones -
- The financial loss (potential income earned while in school and after) vs. education and learning gained while in school.
- Major uncertainty about future job and career prospects vs. happiness and freedom from constraint.

Other benefits - the opportunity to stretch the muscles in my brain, a positive change in environment and doing something I am interested in.

And finally - putting my money where my mouth is!

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*What I hope to gain from my graduate experience:

Clarity and narrowing of fields in terms of my long-term career options. Do I want to be a Professor? Do Research? Be a Writer? All of the above? What can I study such that I will be expert in a field that will be in demand in 10 years from now?

Direction - there are still many disciplines I am interested in. Sociology and Business included. Can I find a blend of Philosophy, Sociology, and Business/Economics?

My class schedule for Fall 2011 - Formal Logic, Modern Philosophy, Being and Knowing, Seminar in Philosophical Writing, and a Graduate Level Logic Workshop.