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Philosophy for Teens (2): Thinking About Ethics

Empower your teen's critical thinking! Join this course delving into major concepts, moral challenges, and thought experiments. Nurture curiosity and spark intellectual growth.
Kathy Wilder
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(451)
Rising Star
Class
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What's included

1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per week
Homework
1 hour per week. Students will read the assigned chapter prior to class. Chapters are short and will take 10-20 minutes to read. It will depend on the natural speed of reading for each learner,

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 12
➖𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀?➖
Navigate life's ethical maze! Uncover the true meaning of ethics and why it matters in our daily choices. Join in for insightful discussions, empowering you to make ethical decisions that resonate in every aspect of your life. Let's explore the why behind caring about ethics together!

Studying ethics is like having a manual for navigating the complexities of life. Here's why it's a game-changer:
• Ethics is your map for navigating the twists and turns of moral decisions. It's like having a compass that guides you through life's moral maze.
• Ever wished you had a super-strong moral compass? Studying ethics helps you build one. It's about figuring out what's right, what's wrong, and why it matters.
• Life is full of choices, and every choice has consequences. Ethics helps you understand the ripple effect of your actions, making you more mindful of the impact you have on the world.
• Want to have excellent character? Ethics is your training ground. It's where you mold and shape the kind of person you want to become.
• Ethics isn't just about rules; it's about understanding others. It boosts your empathy and compassion, giving you the skills to be an expert in understanding different perspectives.
• Life is a series of decisions. Studying ethics equips you with the tools to make informed decisions, ones that align with your values and beliefs.
• Ethics empowers you to be a positive influence on your friends, family, and the world. 
• Life throws ethical curveballs. Ethics prepares you to face dilemmas with confidence, knowing you have the tools to analyze situations and make sound decisions.
• Dream of making the world better? Studying ethics isn't just personal; it's a contribution to a world where individuals make ethical choices for the greater good.
• Making ethical decisions boosts your confidence. It's knowing you have the strength to do what's right even when it's challenging.

➖𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲➖
In this ongoing ethics class the teacher will use the book 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙖 by Matthew Lipman to explore a different ethical situation each week. The chapters are a launchpad for our discussions. The discussions will follow the ideas and thoughts of the learners. Each chapter stands alone allowing learners to enter the class at any time and be able to participate in the philosophical discussion. The teacher will provide a pdf of the relevant by sharing their screen with the class. 

What's on the skills lineup, you ask? 
• Critical Thinking and Reasoning
• Leadership
• Communication 
• Conflict Resolution
• Moral Courage

In our circle of inquiry all ideas are worthy of examination. This class is student centered. The teacher does not impose their ideas, opinions, or perceptions.  Instead the teacher facilitates the discussion, drawing out the student's ideas into our non-judgmental environment of trust and respect for one another. This method empowers the student and allows them to gain confidence in their ideas and sharing them.

𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙖:
Lisa, experiences a range of physical, aesthetic and ethical realizations as she puzzles over issues of animal rights, sexism, racism, justice, divorce and death with her classmates. As Lisa and her friends begin to recognize the ethical dimensions of their experience, they delve into the philosophical concepts as the right, the fair, the good, perfection, and naturalism. Lisa's struggles with identity and thinking for oneself leads her to recognize her interdependence with others and with nature. This novel explores the complexity of ethical concerns and the multiple capacities involved in making sound ethical judgments. 

Please note that the below listed months are a guideline. The study of philosophy is a spiral where the concepts are covered multiple times and in multiple ways throughout the classes. Even when not specifically listed the topics are being covered each month. There are multiple groups with varying start dates.  Due to multiple active groups and amount of student driven discussion and engagement, not all groups are on the same topic. If you are looking to join in at a specific topic of discussion, please send me a message so I can let you know which group will best meet your needs. Thank you for your understanding.


Topics covered throughout this ongoing class:
𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧:How are we to live, Right and wrong, Empathy, What is a right, Difference between animals and humans
𝙊𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧: Anticipating consequences, Good reasons, Universalizing, Means and ends, Conditional Reasoning
𝙉𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧: Promises, What is a question, Puzzlement, Bartering, Lending and Borrowing, Money
𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧: Retaliation, Freedom, Rules, Gift or payment, Obligation of Affection, What is a person
𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮: Manners, Rituals, Habits, Reciprocity, Change it or keep it, Habits
𝙁𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮: Criticism, Beliefs, Students Rights, Thinking, Manners, Taste
𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝: Criteria, Values, Quantity vs. Quality, Judgement, How to Treat Others, Expressing our Thoughts
𝘼𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙡: Accidents or on purpose, Excuses & Pretext, Suspicion, Reprimands, Secrets, Death
𝙈𝙖𝙮: Precious Things, Burials as Rituals, Compulsion, Consistency, Becoming, Negation
𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚: Paradox, Facts, Understanding, Lying, Fighting, Fatalism
𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙮: Determinism, Defending Beliefs, Truth, What is an answer, Philosophical Questions
𝘼𝙪𝙜𝙪𝙨𝙩: Truth and Consequences, Intent, Lying, Justifiable Lying?, Ethical Consistency

Material rotates back to the beginning when the last topic is covered.


Sample class:
Introductions/Warm up questions, such as: Think of something you are glad happened. Can you be happy and sad at the same time? Think a funny thought.
Round table discussion of the story of the day facilitated by the teacher.
Wrap up/Goodbye

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆:
I follow Outschool's policy on refunds for ongoing classes: Parents enrolled in an ongoing class will see a “stop subscription” button instead of “withdraw” on the classroom page after the class’s first meeting. Use this button to prevent any future weekly charges, starting with the following billing period, which rolls over Sunday mornings Pacific time. You can use this to stop future charges at any time.  There will be no refunds issued for a student(s) missing class.  

𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆: If your learner misses a class meeting, you are not entitled to a refund. If your learner misses 3 consecutive class live meetings without communicating with the teacher, you forfeit the class fee and the teacher may cancel the class or withdraw your learner.” 

𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆: Please note that per Outschool policy, if there are 0 students after the first 10 minutes of the class, the class will be canceled for that day. The live meetings are scheduled for 50 minutes; however, depending upon the number of students and the amount of participation from the class, some live meetings may be shorter than 50 minutes.  If the teacher needs to cancel class a makeup class will be assigned. If the student is unable to attend the makeup class a refund will be issued after the makeup class.
Learning Goals
The following reasoning skills will be developed:	
Philosophical concepts as the right, the fair, the good, perfection, and naturalism. 
making sense of phenomena, and being able to see the "big picture".
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Philosophy by its very nature raises questions. This course will challenge the students to question everything they think they know. This can lead to uncomfortable conversations within a family structure.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
I have been a student of philosophy for most of my life. I studied for 4 years with a student of Matt Lipman whose teachings this class is based on.
Joined November, 2019
4.9
451reviews
Rising Star
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from The School of Visual Arts
✨️ New to Outschool?  Use code KATHYWI2020 to save $20 today on ANY class! 💵👍 Don’t miss out—start exploring today! ✨️ 


Greetings and welcome to our classroom adventure, where curiosity takes the reins! I'm Kathy, your guide on this exciting  journey of exploration.

In our classroom, we embrace The Socratic Method, believing that questions fuel our learning journey. Together, we'll form a circle of inquiry – a space where we're free to delve into our thoughts, respect diverse perspectives, and discover more about ourselves along the way. My classes focus around the philosophical questions that weave through our daily lives, books, and movies.

A bit about me: I proudly hold a BFA from The School of Visual Arts. As an ACE Teacher on Outschool, I've embraced Professional Development Training, honing Outschool's three core principles: Agency, Community, & Expertise.

I bring to our educational journey a variety of experiences, having donned various hats – from a 15-year stint as an Advertising Executive in corporate America to roles as a Homeschool Teacher and ESL Teacher. I'm an avid book enthusiast, everything from classics to contemporary themes, even enjoying a bit of mind candy. My passion extends to old movies, where I enjoy introducing timeless classics from the Golden Age of Hollywood to students. Having guided my own children through high school and on to college, I collaborate with local homeschoolers, teaching philosophy, literature, movie studies, and facilitating open discussions on diverse topics like Philosophy, Banned Books, Novel Studies, Hollywood movies, and Women's Studies.

Beyond the classroom, you will find me singing loudly and unapologetically in the car and enjoying moments with family. I look forward to seeing you in the classroom - let the adventure begin!

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Live Group Class
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$20

weekly
1x per week
50 min

Completed by 55 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
1-8 learners per class

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