If you can't decide between neuroscience and the history of philosophy of science, you don't want to do a PhD yet. When you can't imagine doing anything other than [x] for the rest of your life, that's when you want to pursue a PhD in [x].
Ideally, I'd be doing Phd's in both. But seeing as how I've already been studying for six years straight, the idea of another six years on top is a bit lacking in appeal.
If I go for Psych, I'll likely be keeping a toe in the HPS circles with the idea of maybe jumping back later in my career (as is fairly common; a lot of the major figures in HPS have a "real" science background underneath it). If I go for HPS, I'll probably be focussing on the ethical & epistemological implications of modern cognitive science...
Well, at this point, it seems like the best thing to do is to talk to your advisors about your actual research interests. Obviously you can't get a PhD by doing "HPS" or "CogSci"... so talk with the people at your institution. See which department will be a better fit for what, exactly, you want to do.
Or, you know, leave it alone until you get the admissions, 'cos it doesn't matter at all if you don't make it in.
Oh, also? Unless Australia is vastly different than the US, you're almost certainly not going to get in to the same university where you did your undergraduate work.
I think it really depends who is on the admissions committee. I'm at a top 25 school in the US and I've been told by profs who have served on that committee to apply to my undergrad school because there is a good chance I would get in. But...they also told me that I should really try to leave.
However, for the OP: Have you actually been involved in a psych lab? If you go for the neuroscience, you will be doing that sort of research(hopefully) for the rest of your life. I did it for 4 years and that is what made up my mind to choose philosophy instead. Psych can seem more interesting before you are in the 'trenches' for a while.
I Am Not A Postgrad But... Dude, it's your PhD. Why spend so much effort and brainpower on neuroscience if you feel that most of the reading is dull? At least vile reading is entertaining in its own special way!
Perhaps "technical" would've been a better word than dull. Brains are funky, but even the most committed neuroscientist gets a bit bored when checking through the method & stats of ten fMRI papers in a row...
My two cents (perhaps completely wrong!)killtacularOctober 15 2008, 07:15:12 UTC
HPS isn't all that ignored within the academy, and it particularly isn't all that ignored within philosophy.
What, exactly, do you think the "real world impact" of psychology are over philosophy? Gaining an understanding of how the brain works is fascinating, and perhaps may bring benefits to medicine, but its kind of pie in the sky thinking to believe that your research will do this in any significant way. Right?
And for employment, you shouldn't worry as much, at least as long as you are willing to work in, for example, the US or the UK. You are right that most english-language schools include it as a part of "normal" philosophy, but those are still real jobs. If you are a good historian or philosopher of science, you'll get an academic job.
Psych: Much of the reading is dull, but the best of it is brilliant. HPS: Most of the reading is cool, but the worst of it is vile.
This would sum it up for me, at least personally. Do HPS.
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If I go for Psych, I'll likely be keeping a toe in the HPS circles with the idea of maybe jumping back later in my career (as is fairly common; a lot of the major figures in HPS have a "real" science background underneath it). If I go for HPS, I'll probably be focussing on the ethical & epistemological implications of modern cognitive science...
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Or, you know, leave it alone until you get the admissions, 'cos it doesn't matter at all if you don't make it in.
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However, for the OP: Have you actually been involved in a psych lab? If you go for the neuroscience, you will be doing that sort of research(hopefully) for the rest of your life. I did it for 4 years and that is what made up my mind to choose philosophy instead. Psych can seem more interesting before you are in the 'trenches' for a while.
Anyway, good luck with whatever you choose!
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What, exactly, do you think the "real world impact" of psychology are over philosophy? Gaining an understanding of how the brain works is fascinating, and perhaps may bring benefits to medicine, but its kind of pie in the sky thinking to believe that your research will do this in any significant way. Right?
And for employment, you shouldn't worry as much, at least as long as you are willing to work in, for example, the US or the UK. You are right that most english-language schools include it as a part of "normal" philosophy, but those are still real jobs. If you are a good historian or philosopher of science, you'll get an academic job.
Psych: Much of the reading is dull, but the best of it is brilliant.
HPS: Most of the reading is cool, but the worst of it is vile.
This would sum it up for me, at least personally. Do HPS.
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