Great Minds in Philosophy: Plato & the Metaphysics of Idealism
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. includedClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Beginner - Intermediate Level
Welcome to the fantastic world of philosophy! It’s an honor for me to be your guide on a journey into both the ancient and modern worlds of ideas and thought. The primary objective of the 40+ classes in the Great in Minds Philosophy series (of which this is just one) is to give the student an introductory glimpse into the history of philosophical ideas, consider important ethical concerns of our times, and improve our logical and critical thinking skills along the way. Possibly Socrates' most diligent student and biggest fan, Plato of Athens was inspired to alter course from a life of politics to pursue philosophy by the life and death of his amazing teacher. Beyond Ancient Greece itself, Plato's school of thought and teachings through the Academy, the first recognized school of higher learning in Europe, went on to influence the likes of nearly every philosopher who followed him, not least of whom being Plotinus, St. Augustine, and most importantly the other equally influential figure of Ancient Greece (and his student) Aristotle. In the words of Alfred North Whitehead millennia later, "the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato." Classes in the Ancient Philosophy portion of this series include: 1. The Presocratics 2. Socrates 3. Plato 4. Aristotle NOTE: A minimum of four students must be enrolled for the class to run as scheduled.
Learning Goals
Learners will become familiar with some basic historical background on Plato and his philosophical influences
Learners will be introduced to Plato’s hierarchy of metaphysical idealism
Other Details
Parental Guidance
These classes are offered in the spirit of self-directed, interest-based learning of the student. In the interest of promoting creativity and critical thinking under optimal conditions, I highly recommend parents check in with learners about their curiosity and potential interest in philosophy to confirm there is intrinsic motivation in engaging the subject.
Supply List
A one-page handout on our class's topic will be provided upon enrollment.
1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Colorado Teaching Certificate in Mathematics
Bachelor's Degree from Gustavus Adolphus College
Mr. Kelsey is a professional math, philosophy, logic, and language tutor, writer, and lifelong-learning advocate. He is certified through the Praxis II (5161) exam to teach high school mathematics (pre-algebra through calculus), but his range of subjects has included ACT/SAT test prep, college-level mathematics, science, logic, foreign languages, and philosophy. He holds a BA with Honors in Philosophy (with concentrations in Religious and Japanese Studies).
As of March of 2019, Kelsey has had over 1000 registered tutoring hours on top of 3+ years of experience teaching in the classroom. His extensive work in tutoring middle school, high school, college, and continuing education students (over 1,260 hours), as well as instilling his passion for mathematics, science, language, and philosophy in his students, has earned him a 5.0-star rating (out of about 450 ratings) on Wyzant in addition to his past popularity on Outschool.
This background, coupled with a bent for lifelong learning, has given him a knack for finding and rounding out students' weak spots and boosting their confidence in themselves. I've helped many students find the joy in learning math, language, and philosophy by helping them "crack the code" and dissolve the illusion so often impressed on us that everything about these subjects is difficult, complicated, or even impenetrable. It's not.
Please see his Teacher Bio below for further details.
Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$22
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 17 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
4-8 learners per class