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Examining Life, advanced philosophy for questioning minds – Spring – 2019

$249.00

NEW Course! “The study of philosophy leads to so many wonderful questions and discussions. Asking questions like “What do we really know?” and arguing over the ethics of friendship, helps build critical thinking skills and empathy. I can’t wait to question and converse together!” ~ Dr. Marianne

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Instructor

Dr. Marianne Delaporte
Content Level

High School
Course Length

16-Week Course
Enrollment

Enrollment Options Linked Below

Description

Philosophy, the pursuit of wisdom, the study of thought, is foundational to how we live our lives, both in our work and at home, as it considers ethics and the meaning of life. Critical thinking and logic, vital in philosophy, affect all aspects of education and of civic life.

This is an advanced introduction to philosophy; including a study of ethics, aesthetics, logic, metaphysics and existentialism through the works of such great philosophers as Plato, Martin Luther King, Jr. and bell hooks.

We will ponder questions about freedom and society, about how we know what we know, about the existence or non-existence of time, the meaning of friendship, and the future of technology, among other topics.

If you enjoy questioning, refuse to accept “because I told you so” as an answer, then this course is for you!

Note to parents: 

  • This course, taught by Dr. Marianne, is a follow-up to Dr. Kirsten’s mid-level fall, spring, and summer Philosophy, for questioning minds courses.

What to Expect

What to expect in the Required section in the classroom each week:

  • Respond to 2-3 forum prompts — writing at least one five-sentence paragraph for each.
  • Respond with positive and encouraging comments on their classmates’ posts in the classroom forums.

What to expect in the Highly Suggested & Optional sections in the classroom each week:

  • Curated resources, including websites & videos, are provided to excite learners and to add depth to the subject matter.

What to expect during the weekly webinar:

  • Weekly webinars are 50 minutes long. Recorded sessions are available for students with schedule conflicts. Although recorded sessions will be available, students should be able to attend at least 75% of the webinars.
  • Active Participation (via the microphone and chat) in online class discussions.
  • This class is discussion based. Only students who are ready (or need minimal encouragement to become ready) to use the microphone in an online class should enroll.

Materials & More

Before taking this course, students should be able to: 

  • Read at a strong 8th grade level or above.
  • Write a paragraph independently.

Students should be willing to:

  • Be prepared for the webinar.
  • Actively participate (via the microphone and chat) in the class discussion.
  • Verbally participate in webinar discussions – this class is discussion based.
  • Have the desire to complete the discussion forums in the Philosophy classroom.
  • Be ready to discuss challenging topics in a respectful manner.
  • Encourage class discussion by adding their questions/ideas in the chat window during the webinar.
  • Respond with positive and encouraging comments on their classmates’ posts in the classroom forums.

Parents should know: 

  • Although recorded sessions will be available, students should be able to attend at least 75% of the webinars since the courses are discussion-based.
  • Although the curriculum is written for students “grades 7 – 12,” this course is for those students learning at a 9th – 12th grade level. Our mid-level Philosophy course is for students learning at grades 5th – 8th.  

Required books & materials:

  • No textbook required.
  • The philosophy class follows the curriculum guide: The Examined Life – Advanced Philosophy for Kids by David A. White, Ph.D., Prufrock Press. There is no need to purchase the curriculum guide. Parents who choose to purchase the book should use it only to help foster further discussion after the webinar. Please avoid sharing upcoming content from the book with your child as it limits student’s thought processes during the webinar discussions. This course is for student exploration of ideas.

Enrollment Options

Live Webinars - Thursdays, 7 AM Pacific - Please refer to our Webinar Schedule and Academic Calendar for the start date.

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