Overview of 10th Grade Philosophy

Overview of 10th Grade Philosophy

Why would anyone want to study philosophy?  Isn’t it all merely theoretical, and offers no practical information to help an individual live her life?  For Western civilization, philosophy is not merely an academic pursuit, but is foundational, offering social structure and accelerating cultural transformation.  Our goal for 10th grade philosophy is to demand students to express their own views on philosophical issues and compare their views to those of the greatest minds of the Western intellectual tradition.

Areas of Study

10th grade philosophy examines four areas of philosophy.  These areas are:

  • Metaphysics – What is the nature of reality?
  • Epistemology – What is knowledge?
  • Ethics – What is good/right action?
  • Human Nature – What kind of creature is a human being?

The answers to the questions to these four areas of philosophy vary greatly depending on the time period and philosophers one chooses to examine.  10th grade philosophy examines four time periods in philosophical history.

  • Unit 1 – Greece and the foundations of Western philosophy
  • Unit 2 – Rome and the transition of philosophy from theory to therapy
  • Unit 3 – The Renaissance and the rise of science
  • Unit 4 – The Enlightenment and the use of science to control politics, economics and human nature

Our goal in 10th Grade CORE is to challenge students to examine their own understanding of reality, knowledge, good behavior and who they are.  The team fosters this examination through the Socratic Method, creative projects and writing assignments.  Like the best philosophical teachers in the Western tradition, we believe that Socratic dialogue, writing and creative play are the best tools we have to examine our beliefs.  I hope that your students enjoy this exploration.  While the process is challenging, experience convinces us that your child will grow intellectually and enjoy the process.