Here's some perspective on the matter:

Why is it such a common sentiment among philosophy majors? I don't know, but maybe a willingness to endorse positions outside of status quo beliefs has something to do with it.

At any rate, I also endorse socialism, but a very idiosyncratic version of libertarian socialism in my case.

It's funny because I went to college to study economics. (Compare econ majors with phil one's in the graph).

The underlying sentiment of most of my professors was that Marx was wrong. Now, that I am out of college, and pretty much philosophize in my free time, I feel like socialism at its core is an ethical form of government, as opposed to capitalism. Perhaps, that's why it is so favorable with phil majors?

Why do you think philosophy majors are so enamored with socialism? — Wallows

Because they understand it. Hence by far the lowest numbers of unsures.

It's because philosophy majors have no ability to turn their craft into making money, but remain certain that they have something valuable (although monetarily of little value) to impart upon society, so they ask those whose labors actually result in financial success to provide for them so that they can enjoy the benefits of society they could otherwise not afford.

Those whose focus is on business and the earning of money (the mundane fields of finance, law, and accounting), don't seem as needful of the social pooling of money for the general welfare.

The underlying sentiment of most of my professors was that Marx was wrong. — Wallows

Maybe part of it is that under some majors there's a tendency to think of socialism as an endorsement of someone like Marx, whereas philosophy majors don't see it as an endorsement of any particular person's views?

I strongly dislike Marx, by the way. I don't equate him with socialism at all.

Because they understand it. Hence by far the lowest numbers of unsures. — Baden

Curious how those with business majors (economics, finance, etc.) can't understand socialism. You'd think a better explanation is that they do understand it, yet reject it.

I think he was just highlighting the differences in the "unsure" responses.

Marx is not generally covered in finance and accounting though maybe to some degree in economics whereas he's likely to feature more in philosophy courses, I would think. And yes, the unsures stats suggest only lawyers know less about socialism than business majors. :D

I think he was just highlighting the differences in the "unsure" responses. — Terrapin Station

Except that being unsure doesn't necessarily indicate an inability to understand, but just that the decision is nuanced and not entirely clear. To assume it's an inability to understand shows a bias in favor of the intellectual ability of a philosophy major against a business major, as we can assume both are taught about socialism at some point in their studies.

Tbh, I'm speculating from what I know from unis outside the U.S.

Marx is not generally covered in finance and accounting though maybe to some degree in economics whereas he's likely to feature more in philosophy courses I would think. And yes, the unsures stats suggest only lawyers know less about socialism than business majors. :D — Baden

You're now equating Marxist philosophy to socialism in practice, which I don't think really equates. I would expect a business major to learn the effects of government regulation and involvement in the economy as it attempts to protect the general welfare of society. It's not as if all economics major just study the theoretical purely libertarian model.

Tbh, I'm speculating from what I know from unis outside the U.S. — Baden

My son is a finance major. I'll ask him what they teach him about Marx. If it's significant, I'll stop paying his tuition.

I'd pay it myself except I'm a broke socialist relying on capitalist charity to live. Which reminds me, I'll need a coupla more centuries on that loan...

I strongly dislike Marx, by the way. I don't equate him with socialism at all. — Terrapin Station

How would you define socialism such that it excludes Marxism? Or are you just saying that the two are not the same thing?

Why do you think philosophy majors are so enamored with socialism? — Wallows

I'd look at this from the opposite perspective: why are students in other majors less enamored with socialism? They value money and material things, and therefore they choose majors that will lead to well-paying jobs.

Or are you just saying that the two are not the same thing? — Baden

Yeah, socialism in no way implies any particular view of or concern with Marx.

Why do you think philosophy majors are so enamored with socialism? — Wallows

Because philosophers are more likely to have learned to see that following self-interest per se is not the most suitable path to a good life.

It's because philosophy majors have no ability to turn their craft into making money, but remain certain that they have something valuable (although monetarily of little value) to impart upon society, so they ask those whose labors actually result in financial success to provide for them so that they can enjoy the benefits of society they could otherwise not afford. — Hanover

Really? So, you're basically saying that philosophers can't make money from their trade, therefore they need government handouts to support them?

Those whose focus is on business and the earning of money (the mundane fields of finance, law, and accounting), don't seem as needful of the social pooling of money for the general welfare. — Hanover

Ok, this at least makes more sense to me in that the philosopher is concerned with the welfare of the entire community they live in instead of solely their own welfare. So, under such an understanding, the issue then boils down to what is ethical?

I strongly dislike Marx, by the way. I don't equate him with socialism at all. — Terrapin Station

Can you elaborate on this? I think most phil or econ majors tend to equate Marxist ideology with socialism.

And, how do you reconcile this with an interest in socialism on behalf of the philosophy major?

Marxism is one form of socialism. One aspect of Marx's theory which a socialist might disagree with is the idea of the inevitability of revolution and the resulting collapse of capitalism. I think capitalism will indeed collapse, but not for the reasons that Marx postulated.

I don't understand the question, Wallows.

Marxism is one form of socialism. — Janus

What other forms are there, asks the uneducated pig...

I don't understand the question, Wallows. — Janus

Well, how do you go from surmising that concern for one's self isn't always the ideal path towards the good life to favoring or advocating socialism?

What other forms are there, asks the uneducated pig... — Wallows

I am no scholar of socialism, but a quick search yielded this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_socialism

Well, how do you go from surmising that concern for one's self isn't always the ideal path towards the good life to favoring or advocating socialism? — Wallows

Capitalism is the valorization of self-interest, socialism is the valorization of concern for all.

What other forms are there, asks the uneducated pig... — Wallows

Depends who you ask. It does go well beyond Marx but he's still the dominant figure, certainly in unis.

Really? So, you're basically saying that philosophers can't make money from their trade, therefore they need government handouts to support them? — Wallows

Thank you for crystalizing.

@Wallows
https://jacobinmag.com/2018/08/democratic-socialism-social-democracy-nordic-countries

Worth a read. (Particularly re the essential ownership of means of production aspect to socialism).

Why do you think philosophy majors are so enamored with socialism? — Wallows

There seems to be very little consideration that people pick their majors based on personality tendencies they already have. Why are most teachers in America left-leaning politically? Because a free market capitalist would never become a low paid government lackey. They got entrepreneuring to get to. Notice the least supportive were the majors related to business. I don't think we should say "philosophy departments crank out socialists", we should say, "most people who choose to major in philosophy are already sympathetic to socialist ideas."

oops, I just saw that @Relativist beat me to this point...but I already typed it so...post.