Bachelor in Philosophy of a Specific Discipline

What do you do now? 

I’m currently doing a PhD in legal theory, which is a combination of law and philosophy. I'm exploring the relationship between the rule of law, a complex normative ideal within legal theory, and bureaucracy. 

Interesting subject. What do you think philosophy has added to your education? 

There are multiple ways I could answer that. Have you heard of the difference between hedgehogs and foxes that Isaiah Berlin wrote about? It’s based on a Greek allegory. The fox knows many things, while the hedgehog knows one thing. 
As a law student, I learned one main thing—how to distinguish between the facto and the jure. As a philosophy student, I learned many things. I learned to think like a fox. 

Okay, now a difficult one. What is philosophy? 

That's maybe the most difficult question of all. I would say: philosophy is the constant reformulation of questions. So if I may reformulate your question, I would rather ask: What can we do with philosophy, rather than what it is. 

Do you think there’s a special relationship between law and philosophy? 

I think every discipline has a philosophical component, though doctrinal studies often don’t explore it much—maybe for good reason, because it can be distracting or uncertain. But for me, there is a strong connection between law and philosophy. Law structures society, for better or worse. And philosophy gives us a lens to critically assess those structures. 

What philosopher resonates with you most? 
 

That has to be Derrida. I’ve tried to get rid of him, sometimes I just don’t understand him, but he keeps coming back. He’s haunting me, as he might say himself. 

What do you think philosophy has added to your education?

I work in the events industry, specifically for the artist label of Afrojack. I organise festivals and also do artist management on the side. For example, I organise the CC Festival in Rotterdam, shout-out to CC Festival! Honestly, it hasn’t just enriched my education – it’s had a huge impact on my life in general. It gave me a completely different way of thinking. In Innovation Management, it’s all about finding creative solutions, and that process starts with how you define a problem. 

Philosophy taught me not to just go with the first answer, but to keep asking why. It made me look at multiple perspectives, both in identifying problems and solutions. That way of thinking has shaped not only how I work and study, but also how I approach life and decision-making overall. 

What is philosophy to you?

To me, philosophy is like a different lens for solving life’s puzzles. Life is full of pieces scattered across the board, and philosophy helps you figure out how to put them together. Before I studied philosophy, I often struggled to see the bigger picture. But philosophy filled the gap between problems and solutions. It showed me that there are always multiple ways to approach a challenge. There are multiple ways that lead to Rome. It helped me think in terms of communicative rationality. How to identify a common starting point, understand what we’re working with and then build solutions from there.  

What does philosophy contribute to your career? 

During job interviews, people always asked me: “Why philosophy?” It gave me a great opportunity to talk about my interests and made me stand out. Honestly, I’ve had hour-long conversations with my current employer about philosophy alone. It makes people curious, and it adds something special to your profile. 

Is there a philosopher or idea that resonates with you the most?

For me, it’s Habermas and his idea of communicative rationality. It really opened my eyes to the idea that no matter how different perspectives might be, we can always find a basic common ground to start from. If we can agree on something fundamental, then we can build from there, step by step. That way of thinking has helped me a lot, especially in resolving conflicts and better understanding other people’s perspectives. 

Is there anything else you'd like to add to this conversation?

I just think everyone should consider doing a second degree. It adds so much, not just professionally, but personally. The professors are inspiring, the people you meet are amazing, and honestly, it pushes you to learn things you wouldn't normally study on your own. For example, I wouldn't just pick up a philosophy book in my free time. I have other interests too, but knowing I have to study for an exam gives me that extra push. It helps you grow, both intellectually and as a person.  

Why did you choose to add philosophy? 

Because with my medical degree, I'll become a doctor. And being a doctor means working with people. Part of that is understanding what it means to be human. Medicine teaches you a lot about how the human body works, but it doesn’t really explore what it means to be human. I thought I might find those answers in philosophy. And so far, I haven’t been disappointed! Philosophy asks much more fundamental, deeper questions. I find it incredibly fulfilling to explore the many layers philosophy offers in understanding different aspects of being human. This is central to both my medical and philosophical studies. 

I think every person wears a kind of lens through which they see the world. That lens is shaped by experiences, culture and context. Philosophy allows you to try on different lenses, those of other people and reflect on your own. The beauty of that is it lets you see the world from many perspectives, which leads to a richer understanding of life. That’s something I find deeply satisfying. It’s helpful not just professionally but in every aspect of life. Philosophy has many dimensions, and I think it's simply beautiful how it shows us both how we shape ideas and how ideas shape us. 

What is philosophy? 

Big question! I think the literal meaning is “love of wisdom,” and that’s not a bad place to start. But to me, philosophy is about examining everything. It’s about looking deeper at history, thought processes, the assumptions behind our ideas and objects, everything around us. It’s about never taking anything for granted.  Philosophy is, for me, a way of looking at the world through multiple layers. That’s its essence. 

Do you think there's a special relationship between medicine and philosophy? 

Absolutely. Someone once said that medicine is the most scientific of the humanities and the most human of the sciences. As a doctor, you don’t just deal with people, you work with people at their most vulnerable. Illness often brings deep existential questions. Philosophy, among many things, asks what it means to be human and what shapes our understanding of reality. So as a doctor, you're often encountering people when they're being most philosophical. I think being trained in both areas helps me connect with patients in a much deeper way. 

To what degree or in what way did philosophy change you? 

Many things I thought I knew now rest on a different foundation. For example, I’ve started thinking very differently about what it means to be ill, which is personal to me. But more broadly, it’s changed the way I think about knowledge, law, responsibility… I’ve become more aware of the assumptions we make when we talk about these concepts. 

Is there anything you want to add to this interview? 

Let me think. A friend at the gym recently asked me, “Why do you even study philosophy?” And I told him: philosophy is like going to the gym, but for your brain instead of your muscles. That made him laugh. In general, what I really love about philosophy is that it's like peeling the layers of an onion. You uncover deeper and deeper layers of reality. I find that deeply satisfying. I truly believe philosophy enriches life on a fundamental level, for everyone.