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Rule of thumb is to shy away from religion and I think it's probably warranted in this case.

If you do choose this route, I'd recommend talking about how your attending law school would make society happy. That sounds really egoistical (even if you don't mean it that way).

Not to threadjack but what if you were in a club that shows your an Atheist?

seems kind of weird to write about how something doesn't influence you, why don't you keep the subject to what DOES influence you, like utilitarianism, if you REALLY want to talk about atheism then maybe write about how values can transcend religion and allow you to find common ground with people who think differently than you.

You could write about that without mentioning religion. It shouldn't hurt you one way or the other but it is implied that you think utilitarianism is a better guide to your life than the bible or the koran so idk. I think just talking about utilitarianism will work fine bc it is not necessarily saying you think the bible or koran are rubbish lol. I'm a fan of playing it safe.

1. law schools don't care about which totem you carry around (see non-discrimination statements)
2. that said, your proposed personal statement sounds like some pseudo-intellectual, chai tea, rectangular glasses, scarf in 70 degree weather, wannabe, up-a-particular-professor's-intellectual-butt, philosophical clap-trap. it strikes me as pretentious and immature. but do your thing.

and i should mention that, considering i am agnostic, it would almost be self-loathing to hate you.

2 things:

1. No reason to risk it.

2. lol at the person who said "Atheist."

Yea I think I can find a way to do utilitarianism without touching on religion. I like to play it safe.

And to respond to Bill Cosby, saying that going to law school is good for society is the complete opposite of egotistical or self-centered. Now, I don't mean that it will be good for society in the way that curing cancer or building bridges is good for society, I'm just saying it's good in the way that it will make other people happy (such as my parents who will be happy to see me succeed, the future well-being and happiness of my children and spouse, and even potentially the clients I represent). In effect, all I'm saying is that I'm thinking about the happiness of others, not just my own happiness (which is in accord with Mill and Utilitarianism)

In other words, it will create the most amount of J-E-L-L-O, for the most amount of people.

NorCalBruin wrote:Yea I think I can find a way to do utilitarianism without touching on religion. I like to play it safe.

And to respond to Bill Cosby, saying that going to law school is good for society is the complete opposite of egotistical or self-centered. Now, I don't mean that it will be good for society in the way that curing cancer or building bridges is good for society, I'm just saying it's good in the way that it will make other people happy (such as my parents who will be happy to see me succeed, the future well-being and happiness of my children and spouse, and even potentially the clients I represent). In effect, all I'm saying is that I'm thinking about the happiness of others, not just my own happiness (which is in accord with Mill and Utilitarianism)

In other words, it will create the most amount of J-E-L-L-O, for the most amount of people.

You've neglected the amount of bad it creates -- which is necessary to look at it if you're really going to take a utilitarian approach to this (which I suggest you don't).

that said, your proposed personal statement sounds like some pseudo-intellectual, chai tea, rectangular glasses, scarf in 70 degree weather, wannabe, up-a-particular-professor's-intellectual-butt, philosophical clap-trap. it strikes me as pretentious and immature. but do your thing.

I mean, first of all, it's just a one page supplemental essay.

Second of all... how the hell do you talk about a piece of art or literature that influenced your decision to study law. My guess is most people are going to write something like "I read this article on this girl who was poor and couldn't get legal representation... blah blah blah"--so I was trying to do something different.

NorCalBruin wrote:

that said, your proposed personal statement sounds like some pseudo-intellectual, chai tea, rectangular glasses, scarf in 70 degree weather, wannabe, up-a-particular-professor's-intellectual-butt, philosophical clap-trap. it strikes me as pretentious and immature. but do your thing.

I mean, first of all, it's just a one page supplemental essay.

Second of all... how the hell do you talk about a piece of art or literature that influenced your decision to study law. My guess is most people are going to write something like "I read this article on this girl who was poor and couldn't get legal representation... blah blah blah"--so I was trying to do something different.

Lol I avoided that question for that reason.

NorCalBruin wrote:As a utilitarian (and follower of Mill), I should do what creates the most overall happiness--and have decided that law school would make me (and society) the most happy, thus it is the course of action I should take.

litterally loled. I probably shouldn't have, but the phrasing of this sentences is hilarious.

amonynous_ivdinidual wrote:1. law schools don't care about which totem you carry around (see non-discrimination statements)
2. that said, your proposed personal statement sounds like some pseudo-intellectual, chai tea, rectangular glasses, scarf in 70 degree weather, wannabe, up-a-particular-professor's-intellectual-butt, philosophical clap-trap. it strikes me as pretentious and immature. but do your thing.

+1

Everyone, whether they admit it or not, wants to go to law school to make money for their family, so you are not special or utilitarian in that regard. Common sense. Plus, I don't think anyone will care what your religious beliefs, or lack there of, are--especially since Atheism is pretty common place, in high schools across the country. Sorry had to.

StillHere - "...in high schools across the country."

Lmao!

I don't think writing about utilitarianism would maximize utility.

Coming from Phil major here, all professors say that they find all immature students claim they are pure utilitarians until they know what their talking about.
Don't write about being a utilitarian. 1) if you haven't taken any courses on utilitarianism and other theories, they may find it bad judgment to write about it, 2) if you have, they may find you to be immature or not really absorbing what you're learning.

you wouldn't write about the aesthetic values of a painting and style you've never studied would you? of course not. it would be immature and ridiculous to anyone who had any idea of what they were talking about.

I hope this isn't harsh. Really hoping to help you and prevent you from writing an essay that will reflect badly on you.



Additionally, if you refuse to take my advice, which is obviously your prerogative, make sure you don't appear intolerant. Schools hate intolerance just as much as religious extremism.

HTH

mrmangs wrote:I don't think writing about utilitarianism would maximize utility.

ha
+1

NorCalBruin wrote:Hey, so Penn has a "what piece of art of literature most influenced your decision to go to law school" essay question.

I'm currently writing on John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism, discussing how, as an atheist, I look to philosophy to guide my actions rather than to a Bible or Koran, etc. As a utilitarian (and follower of Mill), I should do what creates the most overall happiness--and have decided that law school would make me (and society) the most happy, thus it is the course of action I should take.

My question is--do you think mentioning being atheist will seriously turn an adcomm off? In once sense it adds a diversity of views to their school, but on the other hand, some people just really hate atheists.

Is it too risky?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uYO0vsI6UM

NorCalBruin wrote:and have decided that law school would make me (and society) the most happy, thus it is the course of action I should take.

Hohohoho!!! Verrrrrry Listless!

Seriously - this is redick. Plus, "atheism" is so 80's. If one doesn't believe in something, why should he be the one to define himself as the inverse of he who does? There's "theists" and others. You're one of the others. Big deal, not worth talking about in a LS app.

Fellow atheist and utilitarian here, and I also would have to say not to write too much about your beliefs. Whenever I heard someone in class say "I'm an atheist", or "I think George Bush / Barack Obama is a great President" I would just sigh and wait for the uselessly heated argument to end. I don't understand how it would help the adcomms to think that you are a better candidate, unless they have the same beliefs as you and at the same time have no intelligence. Write about why you want to be a lawyer, unless it's because God told you so or your philosophy dictates that you should, in which case you should just lie.

Since when the fuck does art and literature influence anyone's decision to go to law school?

s0ph1e2007 wrote:Coming from Phil major here, all professors say that they find all immature students claim they are pure utilitarians until they know what their they are talking about.

HTH

HTH

...plus, it's not like atheists/agnostics have the monopoly on looking to philosophy for guidance on how to live a just life.

I don't see why you couldn't talk about Mill, but leave the atheist stuff out of it. It sounds just as a silly talking about the Bible.