Students will develop a greater understanding of history, thought, ethics, and reasoning.
Students will come away having read portions of a variety of texts that give them a better understanding of the ideas and theories that contributed to modern civilization.
Students will gain the opportunity to read dense texts in small, age-appropriate chunks, which enables them to develop their reading comprehension and analytical skills in a meaningful way.
Students will hone their critical thinking and analytical skills, practice actively participating in group discussions, and gain a better theoretical and historical understanding of their world.

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 difficult texts is a wonderful way to facilitate this kind of growth and learning.

1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assignments
Frequency: included
Feedback: included
Details: Short but dense reading assignments will be required prior to each class meeting. 

Weekly optional writing assignments of around 250 words will also be offered. I will provide grading and feedback on these assignments if it is desired. In order to receive a grade for the course, students must complete at least two of these assignments. They can complete another assignment to replace a grade if they wish, for up to eight completed assignments. A student who only completes one assignment may receive a certificate of completion for the course if they choose.

Written assignments are entirely optional. The only requirement for the course is reading and participating in class discussions.
Letter Grade
Frequency: included
Details: Letter grades will be offered as an option for students who complete at least two written assignments.
Certificate of Completion
Frequency: included
Details: A certificate of completion will be offered as an option for students who complete at least one written assignment.

Alexander, Larry. “The Doomsday Machine: Proportionality, Punishment, and Prevention.” The Monist 63, no. 2 (1980): 199-227.

Descartes, Rene. Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy. Translated by Donald A. Cress. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1998.

Nozick, Robert. Anarchy, State, and Utopia. New York: Basic Books, 2013.

Parfit, Derek. Reasons and Persons. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987.

Plato. Complete Works. Edited by John M. Cooper and DS Hutchinson. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1997.

Plutarch. The Rise and Fall of Athens. Translated by John Marincola and Ian Scott-Kilvert. New York: Penguin Classics, 2024.

Searle, John. Minds, Brains, and Science. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1984.

There’s Something About Mary: Essays on Phenomenal Consciousness and Frank Jackson’s Knowledge Argument. Edited by Peter Ludlow, Yujin Nagasawa, and Daniel Stoljar. Cambridge: The MIT Press, 2004.