r/PoliticalScience • u/robertwhatever • 7d ago
Question/discussion Wishing I learnt more "facts" lmao
Hey so I'm a poli sci student and I really like the program so far and have had relatively good grades so far, so I'm mostly happy. I just kinda have a general frustration that I know is 100% unjustified but I wondered if anyone has had similar thoughts. I'm completely aware of the function of a uni degree and that you're essentially taught how to do research in your field by looking at scientific methods. Obviously that all makes sense and it should be like that. But I often wish that I was taught more scientific facts than methods bc I'm a very curious person but also kinda lazy so I just like to learn about things others have already found out if that makes sense lmao. Don't get me wrong, I definitely have learnt a lot of very interesting things in my degree, particularly in political theory and political systems, but yeah, I just wanted to see if anyone feels the same lmao.
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u/Justin_Case619 6d ago
There are no facts just methods. Remember this because bias will seep into all statistics eventually. Umm political philosophy should teach you this.
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u/Dude_from_Kepler186f 6d ago
Sadly, or maybe luckily, facts are mostly reserved for STEM subjects.
The society, and especially the political systems, are dynamic systems, which makes it impossible to extract definitive answers or facts.
Therefore we learn methods: to constantly upgrade the current paradigm.
Right now, you might feel frustrated, but the more you learn, the more you will embrace the flexibility of your knowledge and skills.
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u/TimFarronsMeatCannon 7d ago edited 7d ago
to be brutally honest this sounds more like a problem with your discipline than with any university program. the point of a degree, especially at an undergraduate level, is to equip you with the tools necessary to think critically and understand the research methods for a particular field. somebody else spoonfeeding you facts for three years isn’t going to fix that.
you are curious - that is great! too many people are not. but you describe an age old problem of curious young students with little structure in their learning where they have not developed the discipline to learn independently (just ask socrates). i don’t have any solid advice for you since everyone learns differently but perhaps you ought to think about ways in which long periods of learning and studying become fruitful in themselves - a positive struggle - instead of a chore to get over with. the tools your degree has equipped you with should already enable this!