Some Famous Philosophy Majors

Below is a list of some famous philosophy majors. I have limited it to people who aren't known as being philosophers. This is tricky in some cases, like with Eco, who is known as mostly as a novelist but likely some would consider Eco to be known as both a philosopher and novelist. So, my decision to include Eco and leave out, for instance, Jean-Paul Sartre, might be a bit arbitrary. Also I have left out Steve Martin, who is featured on many famous philosophy major lists, because he never completed his degree. Still, I love Steve Martin and despite not completing his degree I think he at least deserves honorable mention here. Besides, from what I've seen the reasons he left college were due to the effect that studying Wittgenstein had on him, so it's not like he just decided not to take philosophy seriously anymore (perhaps too seriously, but who am I to decide that?). Without further delay, here is the list*:

Wes Anderson, director and filmmaker Rushmore, The Royal Tennenbaums, etc.

Pearl Buck, writer, winner Pulitzer Prize (1932) and Nobel Prize for Literature (1937)

Mary Higgins Clark, author.

Ethan Coen, filmmaker.

Umberto Eco, novelist, semiologist.

Carly Fiorina, CEO, Hewlett Packard.

Ken Follett, author.

Martin Gardner, author, essayist.

Richard Gere, actor

Philip Glass, composer.

Rudi Giuliani, former mayor of New York, Urban Security Consultant

Phil Jackson, NBA coach (most championships won as a coach in the NBA),

Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President

Bruce Lee, Martial arts specialist and actor

Elmore Leonard, author

Madelyn Murray O'Hare, civil rights activist Pope John Paul II, religious leader

Albert Schweitzer, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize

Gene Siskel, Movie Critic

Jeff Smith, T.V. Host, the Frugal Gourmet .

Susan Sontag, writer.

George Stephanopoulos, former Press Secretary

Steve Thomas, Host for TV Show, This Old House .

Alex Trebek, Host of Jeopardy.

Juan Williams, NPR host “Talk of the Nation,” writer, journalist

Rodney Yee, yoga teacher.

*If any errors are found in this hub, please alert the author and the error will be promptly corrected. Thank you!