Blogcritics Comments on Locating Philosophy

Comment by Voracious Reader

Fri, 3 Jun 2005 15:05:33 EDT

Oh, how fabulous. That sounds like a lot of fun. How about a novel? For that age group I would recommend a novel called Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy. I haven't read it, but I know it's highschool appropriate and would introduce them to a number of different philosphers and schools of thought and go from there. I envy you. How large will your class be? Are you going to teach in lecture or seminar format?

Comment by Bennett

Fri, 3 Jun 2005 09:22:36 EDT

Should this really be under the "book" heading? More of a culture thing imo. Cheers!

Comment by roland

Fri, 3 Jun 2005 08:41:42 EDT

Hi Everyone - Thanks for the comments: Let me explain: I have a degree in philosophy and have studied philosophy and religion to a high level (National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow at Yale, etc. - yada yada yada). However, I've spent most of my career in universities as an admissions dean (Colby, MIT, Stanford). Now, I"m an administrator at a private prep school. Next year, I plan to teach a one semester introduction to philosophy class to upper school students. However, since this is new to them, I want to give them a broad introduction that touches on key topics: logic, ethics, beauty, God, man, immortality. But I'd like to quickly get the students to a place where they can take a position and defend the position - in a way that is logical and consistent. Since philosophy is not usually taught in high schools, there isn't a standard text. I hope to find a few texts that introduce the broad topics. For example, how to introduce logic in five class meetings, then go on to topics. The "Six Questions of Socrates" book looks like a good broad text that I may use. But to do do, I have to teach kids how to read a book like that. High School texts usually have short chapters. In this book, the chapters are 60 pages long. So, I have to teach them to read it, keep notes and questions that can pull the chapter together in a way that is useful for a classroom discussion.

Comment by Voracious Reader

Fri, 3 Jun 2005 02:20:58 EDT

You might also like to check out Daedulus, Powells, A Common Reader, Labrynth Books (NY), or St. John's College Bookstore...come to think of it why did you need to go to a Borders, i.e., why not the bookstore at the college where you'll be teaching? What sort of philsophy do you want to teach? e.g., survey/introcourse, religious, or politics emphasis etc...?

Comment by Mark Saleski

Thu, 2 Jun 2005 23:09:13 EDT

yea, can't ya almost hear the string section kicking in?

Comment by SFC SKI

Thu, 2 Jun 2005 23:04:48 EDT

What a Hallmark moment.

Comment by Mark Saleski

Thu, 2 Jun 2005 21:05:48 EDT

yow! great linky goodness dave. that's a great philosophy site. yer ok for a non-liberal.

Comment by Dave Nalle

Thu, 2 Jun 2005 20:53:57 EDT

I'm with Eric. It's bizarre to hear about him teaching philosophy with no apparent knowledge of it. I wonder what grade level he's teaching it at? As for philosophy sources, you can find all the basic texts in complete form on the net. I reference them frequently. A great links site is Epistemelinks.com You can find almost anything there, from pre-socratics like Anaximander to some of the latest thinkers. I just wish it included economists as well. Dave

Comment by Eric Berlin

Thu, 2 Jun 2005 18:23:09 EDT

You make it sound like you have no background in philosophy at all and are looking into the subject area based upon the fact that you have a gig coming up. Is that true?

Comment by Floris Vermeir

Thu, 2 Jun 2005 18:20:42 EDT

Perhaps it is better to have a look online, at amazon.com. You should be able to find many books there. An intresting book is Bertrand Russell the history of western philosophy. It is a starting point, it is not complete, but gives a lot of information. Have a look at the bottom of my last post, you will find some intresting books. Depending on what exactley you will teach in philosophy I might be able to give you some more books. Amazon is great for that, as they often have more books on different subjects then local bookshops. But its true, when one goes looking for philosophy one often finds books that have nothing to do whith it.

Comment by DrPat

Wed, 25 May 2005 09:17:32 EDT

Barnes & Noble is no better, and even worse, much of the miniscule Philosophy section is loaded with self-help stuff masquerading as philosophy.

Comment by Aaman

Wed, 25 May 2005 01:45:14 EDT

Is that the sum-total of your insights into Philosophy? Self-help and Erotica are both very philosophical, really. Post-coital insights are among the most meaningful, in my experience. Self-help and erotica can be combined quite fruitfully to deliver much self-actualization, the goal of all philosophy. Try looking up tantricism next time