Intro to Philosophy

Through a combination of close reading, in class lecture and discussion, and reading response assignments, this course will introduce students to the study of philosophy. Traveling through the ethical theories of Aristotle in the ancient world, to those of J.S. Mill, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Henry David Thoreau in the 19th century, to those of Theodor Adorno in the 20th century, this introduction will be organized around the perennial philosophical question of what constitutes the good life for human beings and the possible role of art in such a life

Designed for

Students who are interested in philosophy

Level

High school students

Class format

One-on-one and small group (Max. 7 students/class)

Class Introduction

This course introduces students to philosophy through a combination of reading, in-class lectures, discussions, and reading response assignments. This course will be organized around the perennial philosophical question of what constitutes the good life for human beings and the possible role of art in such a life.

Course Content

Lesson	Topics
1	Student introductions Introduction to the subject Overview of the branches of philosophy and logic
2	Discussion of homework questions Aristotle’s Ethics part I
3	Discussion of Artistotle’s Ethics part I questions Aristotle’s Ethics part II
4	Discussion of Aristotle’s Ethics part II question Mill’s version of Utilitarianism
5	Discussion of Mill questions Nietzsche part I
6	Discussion of Nietzsche part I questions Nietzsche part II
7	Discussion of Nietzsche part II questions Thoreau
8	Discussion of Thoreau’s questions Adorno part I
9	Discussion of Adorno part I question Adorno part II
10	Discussion of Adorno part II questions My dinner with Andre clips and discussion of questions

Feedback

Students and their parents will receive brief feedback after each class regarding the student’s general participation in class. Students will also receive feedback on graded assignments via email. At the end of the course, the student will receive a final report card, which thoroughly speaks to their overall participation in the course, including major assignments.