Philosophy Club (Live)
In this ongoing club, students will get to learn about and discuss a variety of ideas, theories, and thought experiments from philosophy. Weekly topics may include questions in ethics, political theory, the nature of our world, and more.
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per weekProjects
1 hour per week. Students are welcome to do further reading on each week's topic, and I'm happy to provide or recommend resources if they do. There is no outside work required, however.Progress Report
I am happy to provide reports and advice on each student's progress in their analytical skills as desired.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
In this ongoing club, students will get to learn about a variety of ideas, theories, and thought experiments from throughout the history of philosophy. This will be a largely student-directed course, so while I'll always have a bank of topics to select from in a pinch, I would love for my students to tell me what they're most interested in learning about each week. Each club will contain a mini-lesson about the topic for that week, whether it be a question about ethics, politics, the nature of knowledge, a historical figure, or something else entirely, and then there will be a student-led Socratic discussion about the material.
Learning Goals
Students will gain a greater understanding of history, thought, and intellectual culture.Students will gain the opportunity to pursue their own interests in a group of interested peers under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Please note that this course will explore a variety of potentially difficult topics, ideas, and events from divergent perspectives, both in the course material and in interactions with classmates. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to determine if they wish their child to analyze and discuss this content. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.
Also note that the topics covered in this class may be difficult or controversial ones, including death, religion, personal ethics, and whether truth exists. While some sources may be from various religions, all material will be covered in a secular manner. I will send out the material ahead of time each week so that your family may review it in case your student wishes to skip a certain subject.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
I will be pulling all material from my personal library, which is vast. Please check my other course listings to get an idea of the kind of material I assign. Some examples that will likely be used a lot in this class include Peg Tittle's "Collected Thought Experiments in Philosophy," Peter Singer's series of short essays on practical ethics, and ancient philosophy and rhetoric.
Joined June, 2024
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Philosophy from Northern Illinois University
Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from Illinois Wesleyan University
I have a BA in Philosophy with minors in Political Science and Greek and Roman Studies, as well as an MA in Philosophy with a concentration in Ethics and Political Philosophy. I’m the head coach of a competitive high school debate team and teach the liberal arts at a classical school. I’m also a professional creative writer and journalist.
I love helping students of all ages understand and interpret difficult subjects and learn how to crystallize their thoughts in writing and oral communication. I believe studying philosophy is a wonderful way to facilitate this kind of growth and learning.Reviews
Live Group Class
$20
weekly1x per week
50 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
1-18 learners per class
