DESCRIPTION

At the core of life, one question occurs repeatedly over and over: What does it mean to be human?

This 32-week course will introduce students to some of the world’s greatest thinkers from Ancient and Medieval times. Many introductory philosophy courses are organized topically by subject, question or idea, however, this course is organized chronologically to help students get a picture of the development of ideas over time.

This will be a gentle introduction to ideas and the thinkers behind them. The live classes will be a time for discussion and contemplation. The fall semester will focus on Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers, and the spring will focus on Christian philosophy.

Students will learn how to read well and will use the skills of discussion, narration, and writing to further their understanding of the works through before-class readings, in-class discussions, and weekly discussion boards where students will continue the conversation during the rest of the week.

Students will write one major paper each semester. Other smaller writing assignments and projects will occur periodically throughout the course.

We will ponder the following questions, among others:

• What does it mean to live a good life? 

• What is happiness? 

• What is the difference between right and wrong and between good and evil?

• What does it mean to be virtuous?

• What is the meaning of life?

• How does one live and die well?

Come join us as we explore what it means to be human!

PREREQUISITES

• This course is for high school students.

MATERIALS

We will read and study the following texts. Students will need a copy of each book that they can mark in. Links to specific translations will be provided.

• Five Dialogues by Plato

• Republic by Plato

• Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle

• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

• Socrates Meets Jesus by Peter Kreeft

• Confessions by Augustine

• Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius

• Church Fathers

• A Shorter Summa by Peter Kreeft

• The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis

DAY AND TIME

• This is a 32-week, full-year course

• Online, weekly, 90-minute class

• 11 a.m. Wednesdays (EST), beginning August 28, 2024

COST

Full-year: $645 ($95 due at registration, balance due by July 1)