How to write a PhD Thesis | Attic Philosophy

How do you go about writing a PhD? How do you deal with a 3, 4, or more years of study, research, and writing? It's MUCH easier if you start with a good plan. In this video, I show you what a good thesis plan looks like, and how to adapt mine to your own circumstances. Then, I show you how to use your thesis plan as a work plan, e.g. for UK students, dividing things into years 1, 2, 3 and a writing-up year.

00:00 - Intro
00:29 - What we’re (not) covering here
01:09 - 2 big things to do
01:36 - How UK PhD courses work
01:58 - My main suggestion
02:52 - When things don’t go to plan
03:16 - How to plan a thesis
04:26 - How long should a thesis be?
04:58 - A thesis plan
09:15 - Your new theory
10:00 - Your conclusion
10:16 - How long is each chapter?
10:32 - Does this tick the boxes?
12:19 - Planning your research, year by year
13:08 - 1st year plan
13:26 - 2nd year plan
14:16 - 3rd year plan
14:43 - When should you finish?
15:43 - This is just a rough plan!
16:12 - Wrap-up

If there’s a topic you’d like to see covered, leave me a comment below.

Links:

Get in touch on Social media!

#PhD # thesis #writing

[AtticPhilosophy]

Will this plan work for your PhD? Leave me a question down below!

[havenbastion]

1) Besides organization in general, i've struggled with how to do the meta-section. Metaphysics is the primary topic. Then there's the meta-philosophy (organization, purpose), and meta-metaphysics (distinction from epistemology, ontology, mereology, science), not to mention value and purpose (much less prediction). Philosophers have written books on less than each of these and that's just my overflow/caveat areas.

2) I'm covering all of metaphysics, and beyond, so all of academic philosophy is my previous works pool. That's unworkable.

3) My thesis is self-contained. IF you accept these definitions/premises, THEN all questions may be answered. One of its primary strengths is in its independence - no appeal to authority. Also, as being expressible in ordinary language, there is no need to speak to previous thinkers. That work seems to be for readers who want those connections for their own reasons which are of personal interest and beyond the scope of this ToE. Perhaps i just don't understand but i see no value in tying my work in with others.

4) The meat of the work is a sub-set? This is Exactly why academic Philosophy goes nowhere. I've taken great pains to stick with what's necessary and sufficient. Once again, academic criteria would neuter great philosophy.

[Play_Nice]

Thank you, I found this information very helpful as I start my journey. ❤🙏

[crisking]

Thank you for the video! I'm writing my bachelor's thesis next year and am currently considering potential topics. Could you do a video on bachelor's philosophy thesis (scope, ambition, etc.)? Would be great if you also discussed how to choose a thesis topic because I'm kinda stuck.

[LoneStarStinger]

I really hate philosophy but somehow it turned out to be my best subject.

[havenbastion]

I can answer every question in metaphysics;
a) cohesively, coherently, conclusively,
b) in ordinary language,
c) compatible with scientific consensus,
d) no gaps, special pleading, appeal to authority, or woo.

..which is a claim well beyond what any serious/known philosopher has ever made, and yet i can meet none of your criteria. This is why Academic Philosophy cannot be taken seriously. It's not wise, it's academic.

The height of the tallest ivory tower, most splendid and shiningly garbed in social acceptance, is not so tall as the Plateau of Truth reachable by the stolid plodding of ordinary common sense.


Philosophy is of three distinct areas, each with it's own tools and aims;
-Academic Philosophy is about organizing people, history, and jargon. Meaningful answers or solutions are optional.
-Practical Wisdom is colloquial philosophy. It seeks solutions and is contingent/bespoke.
-Truth Wisdom is epistemology and metaphysics. It seeks answers which are as universal as possible.

[elieharfouche]

Hi Dr. Mark

I'm Elie Harfouche from Lebanon and wanted to reach out to you as a fan of your YouTube channel and someone who greatly admires your videos in the field of academia. Your videos are incredibly insightful and helpful.
I currently work as a senior video editor / colorist, and part time university instructor, and have a master's degree in media studies with a focus on TV management and production. I am considering pursuing a PhD and have a few questions that I would like to ask you.
Would it be possible to schedule a 15-minute Zoom call with you to discuss some of my questions and seek your advice on pursuing a PhD? I would greatly appreciate your insights and guidance on this matter.
Thank you in advance for considering my request. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

[bikrammandal]

Hello sir I am a student of philosophy at Visva Bharati University from India. Currently I am pursuing my masters degree, and after that I want to go to PhD but I have totally confused which portion am I research. can you give me any suggestions?

[AsrifYusoff]

Great content and subscribed! Would love to hear what you think of our grad school channel. Thank you.

[havenbastion]

I completely concur with what you said about how to go about your research (breath, deconstruction/synopsis) but you're utterly wrong about why. The assumption that prior works are necessarily relevant is a fiction. Academics try to make it so but it can be counterproductive. It makes sense as a suggestion and is foolish as mandatory.

Suggesting someone spend a year just on other people's similar ideas can also be counterproductive. Great Philosophy has historically been done by people with a breath of understanding that was worldly, not academic. <spit>

[havenbastion]

2) Academic skills are useful but only the vocabulary is ever potentially necessary. All of the ideas in philosophy can be discussed in ordinary language and other academic tools are mere shortcuts.

In fact, invoking both Occam and Sagan, ideas should be expressed as simply as possible to be their best. They should be accessible to everyone of ordinary intelligence except when they become technically specific.

[havenbastion]

1) "knowledge of the literature" inherently blocks the best philosophers, who are not now nor have they ever been academics. There is zero academic knowledge required to be a great philosopher Except in academia.

[havenbastion]

3) Not so. All philosophical ideas have been independently derived many times. There is nothing New to add, there is only insight and reorganization.

[havenbastion]

Thumbs down for asking for a thumbs up after a minute of no content.