$18
weeklyor $295 for 17 classes
Wisdom and Wonder: Introducing the History of Philosophy Through Sophie's World
Completed by 12 learners
Ages 13-18
Live Group Class
Live video meetings
1x per week, 17 weeks
4-8 learners per class
55 min
What's included
17 live meetings
15 hrs 35 mins in-class hoursHomework
2-4 hours per week. Students are expected to read 2-3 chapters of the book each week per our syllabus. Additionally, a handout of comprehension questions and journal prompts will be assigned each week. These handouts are offered through both Google Docs and Google Forms.Certificate of Completion
A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to those who successfully turn in at least 12 free response journal prompts (of 200+ word count each) and score 80% or above on at least two of the four total assessments throughout the course. A Certificate of Excellence will also be awarded to those who successfully turn in all 15 free response journal prompts (of 200+ word count each), score 80% or above on all four assessments throughout the course and at least 90% on at least one of them, and turn in and present a quality essay for the final Student Symposium project.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Beginner - Intermediate Level
Are you a deep thinker? Do you tend to ask a lot of questions? To turn over every leaf? To remain unsatisfied with the frequent refrain "that's just how it is"? “So now you must choose... Are you a child who has not yet become world-weary? Or are you a philosopher who will vow never to become so? To children, the world and everything in it is new, something that gives rise to astonishment. It is not like that for adults. Most adults accept the world as a matter of course. This is precisely where philosophers are a notable exception. A philosopher never gets quite used to the world. To him or her, the world continues to seem a bit unreasonable - bewildering, even enigmatic. Philosophers and small children thus have an important faculty in common. The only thing we require to be good philosophers is the faculty of wonder…” ― Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World 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 objectives of this course are to give you 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. This course will cover one chapter a week from the book, Sophie's World, the story of a 14-year-old girl who encounters a philosopher. Together they work to uncover a deep mystery about their world while simultaneously exploring the history of philosophy. Students enrolled in this course are expected to read up to (but no more than) two chapters of the text a week (one chapter per class) outside of classes. In class, we answer some general questions about the text (including author's intention and devices in writing) and its content before focusing on the main philosophical questions addressed in the most recently read chapter by way of "Socratic Circle," that is, a discussion among peers. Each class will be accompanied by a handout of comprehension questions and journal prompts to be completed prior to each class. The comprehensive "Mastery Check" is part of the final class of the series (see Homework and Assessment below, respectively, for details). Accompanying lessons are offered through original slides that depict many of the art pieces and concept imagery associated with those we study. Weekly designated office hours will also be available for students to ask questions and discuss thoughts of theirs in the context of their writing. Both an accessible introduction to philosophy and an enjoyable piece of young adult literature in its own right, Sophie's World promises to be a delightful journey through the mental landscape that retells the story of our cultural and intellectual heritage. Philosophical investigations abound! NOTE: A minimum of four (4) students must be enrolled for this course to be held as scheduled. Students who wish to remain enrolled even in the case of there not being a sufficient number of enrollees will be transferred to the next available scheduled day and time of the same class. Still got questions? Feel free to contact me for more information!
Learning Goals
Students will be able to identify and summarize key developments in the history of philosophy as presented in Sophie's World.
Students will develop familiarity with foundational philosophical ideas and movements, enhancing their understanding of how these shaped Western civilization.
Syllabus
17 Lessons
over 17 WeeksLesson 1:
Introduction to Sophie's World
Dive into the magical, thought-provoking journey of Sophie's World! This lesson introduces the book’s narrative structure, its central philosophical questions, and sets the stage for an engaging exploration of Western philosophy.
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
The Garden of Eden, The Top Hat, and The Myths
Explore the opening chapters, where Sophie’s philosophical curiosity is sparked. We’ll discuss the wonder of existence, early creation myths, and how imagination and storytelling form the foundation of human thought.
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
The Natural Philosophers, Democritus, and Fate
Investigate how the earliest Greek philosophers sought natural explanations for the world. From Thales to Democritus, we’ll examine the birth of science and concepts of fate versus free will in ancient thought.
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Socrates, Athens, and Plato
Journey into the heart of Athens to meet Socrates, Plato, and their groundbreaking ideas. We’ll discuss the Socratic method, Plato’s idealism, and how their views on ethics, knowledge, and politics still resonate today.
55 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
There are one or two words of light swearing, and some brief references to nudity and sexuality in the book. Three out of the 16 lectures also spend a fraction of the time talking about the nature and effects of the political philosophy of Marx and psychosexual development according to Freud. These lectures include disclaimers at the beginning of the videos, as well as timestamps of what portions of the lecture to expect such sensitive content, for your ease and convenience.
Sophie's World, and philosophy itself, is often reported as a life-changing experience, and as such, the teacher strongly recommends parents make themselves available to their learners through the length of the course to openly discuss and reflect on the lessons and content as we move through them.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Access to the book Sophie's World is a requirement for this class. You can borrow a copy from your local library, or alternatively buy your own copy here:
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder (Amazon link)
https://amzn.to/32rrLXg
Note: I offer this link as an affiliate of Amazon's, meaning that, while you do not pay more for the book, Amazon pays me a small commission for recommending your purchase. Any commissions received helps me afford to making teaching and tutoring a sustainable means of income for me, however, you are never required in my classes to make purchases through this means if it does not suit you to do so.
Meet the teacher
Teacher expertise and credentials
Colorado Teaching Certificate in Mathematics
Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from Gustavus Adolphus College
I graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College magna cum laude in 2006 with a degree in Philosophy with Honors and additional concentrations in Japanese Studies and Religion. I also studied Zen Buddhism and Japanese language abroad at Kansai Gaidai University, Osaka.
As part of my philosophy degree, I am trained in critical thinking, analytical essay writing, and formal predicate logic and was further enriched by my enrollment in the school’s "Curriculum II" program (now called the "Three Crowns Curriculum") for interdisciplinary academics. My inspiration for becoming an educator was drawn from flame to fire through the opportunity to present my undergraduate thesis (on the speculative consequences of meme theory) to a panel in the Minnesota Students Society of Philosophy.
I twice taught this philosophy course as a trimester-length course in public high school before holding multiple sections of it (as well as other philosophy classes) here on Outschool.
I believes Sophie's World to be a wonderful segue into this deep and important discipline in its ability to incorporate the ideas of philosophy into its engaging fictional plot. I have loved introducing students to the concepts and movements of thought that have shaped our world and continue to shape it today. I also truly believe that it is the philosophical thinkers who will be ideal candidates for world leaders and global problem solvers in the years to come.
Reviews
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