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The University of Southampton
PhilosophyPart of Humanities

Issy  Gross BA Economics and Philosophy

Associate Director at a large bank

Issy  Gross's Photo

Hi, I'm Issy Gross and I studied BA Economics and Philosophy within Humanities at the University of Southampton.

I think the key skill that you take away from philosophy is the ability to negotiate and debate in a concise and thorough manner. The volume of logic that is taught at Southampton encourages students to think about how they articulate themselves on a day to day basis, a skill that I have found invaluable when writing reports and negotiating complex financial structures in my day to day work.

How did you get interested in philosophy?

Mainly through friends, I love debate and discussion and while travelling in South East Asia I met several like mind people who started to introduce me to the subject. I didn’t study it at A Level and actually knew very little about the subject before Uni but really enjoyed learning about the way to form arguments and think critically about subjects while discussing some of the most interesting philosophical questions (like whether there is a difference between body and soul).

Why did you choose to study at Southampton?

Southampton is one of the top unis for both economics and philosophy so it ticked all the academic boxes, however, it went beyond that – the sports facilities are excellent, there is a community feel as soon as you step onto campus, the extra curricular options are limitless and it's well situated in terms of the New Forest, the coast and the city.

What did you like most about your degree programme?

The flexibility, I was definitely more interested in debating subject matters rather than learning about what other people thought (I did very few modules on actual philosophers, although there are obviously loads available). The options available meant that I was able to do this and the quality of lecturers and students at Southampton meant that I was always given ample opportunity for lively debate.

Which were your favourite branches of philosophy?

I can’t remember the actual topic name but it would be the philosophy of mind and mind/body relationship.

What was the best thing about living and studying in Southampton?

That’s easy, the people you meet there and the activities you can take part in while you’re there. I learnt how to windsurf, surf, sail, play ultimate frisbee, manage a sports team, cheerlead, act. There are just so many things to do! I also have lifelong friends from Uni and even continue to live with some of them 5 years down the line…

Has studying philosophy helped you in your career?

I think the key skill that you take away from philosophy is the ability to negotiate and debate in a concise and thorough manner. The volume of logic that is taught at Southampton encourages students to think about how they articulate themselves on a day to day basis, a skill that I have found invaluable when writing reports and negotiating complex financial structures in my day to day work. It taught me how to work through a compelling argument when persuading others but also how to spot flaws in my own logic.

Are you still interested in philosophical ideas?

Of course!

Would you recommend studying the subject to other people?

Without a doubt!

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