ConVal High School
Philosophy Class

 

Syllabus
   

 

 

"We are all drugged by our own frenzy."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

 

 



"It is not how much a man has which makes him happy, it is how little he wants."

Seneca

 

 

 

August 28 - 30

 

August 28 - 30
Wednesday
  Course Introduction; Respect Pledge; Class Reading of "The Allegory of the Cave"
Assignment: Read "On Philosophy" by Seneca and write 150 words on a pithy quote
   
Thursday
  Homework Check; Small and Large Group sharing of pithy quotes; Allegory Truth Activity;
Assignment: Read "To Study Philosophy is to Learn How to Die" and write 150 words on a pithy quote.
   
Friday
  Group Juggle Allegory; Class Reading of Socrates "On Self Discipline"; DLP discussion
Assignment: Write DLP #1 for Tuesday.
   

September 2 - 6
Tuesday
  Collection of DLP's. Group reading of "The Allegory of the Cave";  class discussion of Pithy Quotes
Assignment: Read "Philosophy, Who Needs It" by Ayn Rand and write 180 words on a pithy quote.
   
Wednesday
  Homework check and discussion of Pithy Quotes, "Allegory of the Cave" truths; handing out of books, The Trial and Death of Socrates
Assignment:Read "The Apology" and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Thursday
  Class reading of Euthyphro
Assignment: Read "The Apology" and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Friday
  Homework Check; Sharing and discussion of pithy quotes;
Assignment: DLP 2 due on Monday
   

September 9 - 13
Monday
  DLP sharing; "Allegory of the Cave" discussion; Video: Ideas; discussion of Video
Assignment: Read "The Apology" and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Tuesday
  Large and small group discussion of pithy quotes; Lecture on "Allegory of the Cave"
Assignment: Read "On Physiognomy" by Montaigne and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Wednesday
  Discussion of pithy quotes; Video Lecture on Socrates
Assignment: Read Emerson's "On Socrates" and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Thursday
  discussion of pithy quotes; Class reading of Plato's "On Self-Discipline"
Assignment: Read "The Crito" and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Friday
  Discussion of pithy quotes; Discussion Allegory Activity
Assignment: Complete DLP 3 for Monday
   

September 16 - 20
Monday
  Handing in of DLP's; Class reading of Plato's "On Self-Discipline"
Assignment: Read Plato's "On Democracy" and write 180 words on a pithy quote.
   
Tuesday
  Small and Large group sharings of pithy quotes; Wonderful Circle activity; Books out Plato's Heirs
Assignment: Read Aristotle's "On Self-Discipline" and write 180 words on a pithy quote.
   
Wednesday
  Small and Large group sharings of pithy quotes; Class reading of Plato's "The Ring of Gyges" and discussion
Assignment: Read Aristotle's "The Aim of Man" pp. 11-20 in Plato's Heirs and write 180 words on a pithy quote.
   
Thursday
  Small and Large group sharings of pithy quotes
Assignment: Read Aristotle's "The Aim of Man" pp. 20-29 in Plato's Heirs and write 180 words on a pithy quote.
   
Friday
  Small and Large group sharings of pithy quotes;
Assignment: Complete DLP 4 for Monday.
   

September 23 - 27
Monday
  DLP's return and feedback; collection of DLP's; Class reading of "The Silvered Mirror"; allegory paper assignment out
Assignment: Work on allegory paper assignment
   
Tuesday
  Work on allegory paper assignment
Assignment: Work on allegory paper assignment
   
Wednesday
  Work on allegory paper assignment
Assignment: Work on allegory paper assignment
   
Thursday
  Class sharing of allegory paper
Assignment: Work on allegory paper assignment
   
Friday
  Class sharing of allegory paper
Assignment: Allegory paper due on Monday
   

September 30 - October 4
Monday
  Collection of Original Allegory Papers; handing back of DLP 4; Class reading of "On One's Reading" and discussion
Assignment: Read Seneca's "On Philosophy and Fate" and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Tuesday
  Small and large group discussions of "On Philosophy and Fate"
Assignment: Read Seneca's "On Accepting Fate" and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Wednesday
  Small and large group discussions of pithy quotes
Assignment: Read Seneca's "On the Firmness of the Wise Man" and write 180 words ona pithy quote
   
Thursday
  Small and large group discussions of pithy quotes
Assignment: Read Seneca's "On the Good as Attained by Reason" and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Friday
  Small and large group discussions of pithy quotes
Assignment: Complete DLP 5 for Monday
   

October 7 - October 10
Monday
  DLP readings; Video lecture on Stoics; Ring of Gyges reading
Assignment: Read "The Qualities of a Prince" in Plato's Heirs and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Tuesday
  Small and large group discussion of pithy quotes;
Assignment: Read "The Four Idols" in Plato's Heirs pp. 53-59 and write down two modern day examples of the idol of the cave and the idol of the tribe
   
Wednesday
  Discussion of reading; close reading of text
Assignment: Read "The Four Idols" in Plato's Heirs pp. 59-63 and write down two modern day examples of the idol of the marketplace and the idol of the theater
   
Thursday
  Discussion of reading; close reading of text, video lecture on Bacon, Idols of the Mind Activity out
Assignment: DLP 6 for Monday
   
Friday
 
Assignment:
   

October 14 - October 18
Monday
  Work on Idols of the Mind Activity
Assignment: Work on Idols of the Mind Activity
   
Tuesday
  Work on Idols of the Mind Activity
Assignment: Work on Idols of the Mind Activity
   
Wednesday
  Work on Idols of the Mind Activity
Assignment: Work on Idols of the Mind Activity
   
Thursday
  Work on Idols of the Mind Activity
Assignment: Work on Idols of the Mind Activity
   
Friday
  Presentation of Idols of the Mind
Assignment: Complete reflection question for Monday
   

October 21- October 25
Monday
  Debrief of Idols Activity; sharing of idols activity writing; viewing of idols activity video
Assignment:
Read "On Drunkenness" in Plato's Heirs and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Tuesday
  Viewing of last year's idols activity; small and large group discussion of pithy quotes
Assignment: Read "On Liars" and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Wednesday
  Small and large group discussion of pithy quotes
Assignment: Read "the Folly of Measuring Truth and Error by our own Capacity" and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Thursday
  Small and large group discussion of pithy quotes
Assignment: Read "On Cruelty" and write 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Friday
  Small and large group discussion of pithy quotes
Assignment: complete DLP 7 for Monday
   

October 28- November 1
Monday
  DLP sharings; Class Reading of "That Our Actions Should Be Judged By Our Intentions" 
Assignment:
Read "Of The Education of Children" and write a minimum of 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Tuesday
  Discussion of pithy quotes; Introduction to Voltaire;
Assignment: Read "On Ancient Philosophy," "On Character" and "On Charletons" and write a quote from each for discussion
   
Wednesday
  Discussion of essays; Video Lecture on Voltaire
Assignment: Read "On Envy," "On False Minds" and "On the Limits of the mind" and write a quote from each for discussion
   
Thursday
  Discussion of essays; Symposium discussion
Assignment: Read "On Luxury," "On Superstition" and "On Tolerance" and write a quote from each for discussion
   
Friday
  Discussion of essays; Montaigne/Voltaire paper assignment discussion
Assignment: Start writing Montaigne/Voltaire paper
   

November 4 - 7
Monday
  Workday on Montaigne/Voltaire Paper
Assignment: Work on Montaigne/Voltaire paper
   
Tuesday
  Workday on Montaigne/Voltaire Paper
Assignment: Work on Montaigne/Voltaire paper
   
Wednesday
  Workday on Montaigne/Voltaire Paper
Assignment: Work on Montaigne/Voltaire paper
   
Thursday
  Workday on Montaigne/Voltaire Paper
Assignment: Finish Montaigne/Voltaire paper; sharing of papers on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
   
Friday
  No School—Teachers' Workshop
   

November 12 - 15
Monday
 
Assignment:
   
Tuesday
  Sharing of Montaigne papers
Assignment: Read Emerson's "Nature" in Plato's Heirs and write a minimum of 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Wednesday
  Sharing of Montaigne papers; discussion of pithy quotes
Assignment: Read Emerson's "The American Scholar" and write a minimum of 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Thursday
  Discussion of pithy quotes; begin video Spirit and Nature
Assignment: Read Emerson's "Illusions" and write a minimum of 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Friday
  Finish video Spirit and Nature
Assignment: Complete DLP 8 for Monday
   

November 18 - 22
Monday
  DLP sharing; Discussion of pithy quotes;
Assignment: Read "Circles" and write a minimum of 180 words on a pithy quote.
   
Tuesday
  Small and large group discussion of pithy quotes;
Assignment: Read "On Montaigne" and write a minimum of 180 words on a pithy quote.
   
Wednesday
  Small and large group discussion of pithy quotes;
Assignment: Read "Oversoul" and write a minimum of 180 words on a pithy quote.
   
Thursday
  Small and large group discussion of pithy quotes;
Assignment: Read ""Self-Reliance" and write a minimum of 180 words on a pithy quote.
   
Friday
  Small and large group discussion of pithy quotes;
Assignment: Complete DLP 9 for Monday
   

November 25 - 26
Monday
  Discussion of "Self-Reliance" pithy quotes; books out on Thoreau; View video: Spirit and Nature
Assignment: None
   
Tuesday
  Finish Video: discussion of video
Assignment: Complete DLP 9 for Monday
   
Wednesday
  No School — Thanksgiving Break
   
Thursday
  No School — Thanksgiving Break
   
Friday
  No School — Thanksgiving Break
   

December 2 - 5
Monday
  Sharing of DLP's; finish video: Spirit and Nature; handing back of evaluated material
Assignment: Read "Civil Disobedience" and write a pithy quote of a minimum of 180 words
   
Tuesday
  Small and large group sharing of pithy quotes; Video: Walkabout
Assignment: Read "Life without Priniciple" and write a minimum of 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Wednesday
  Small and large group sharing of pithy quotes; Reading Time for assignment
Assignment: Read "Walking" and write a minimum of 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Thursday
  Small and large group sharing of pithy quotes; Reading Time for assignment
Assignment: Read "Slavery in Massachusetts" and write a minimum of 180 words on a pithy quote
   
Friday
  Small and large group sharing of pithy quotes;
Assignment: Work on Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
   

December 9 - 13
Monday
  Small and large group sharing of pithy quotes; Work time on Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read chapters 1 and 2 of Brave New World
   
Tuesday
  Quiz on and discussion of reading; Work time on Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read chapters 3 and 4 of Brave New World
   
Wednesday
  Quiz on and discussion of reading; Work time on Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read chapters 5 and 6 of Brave New World
   
Thursday
  Quiz on and discussion of reading; Work time on Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read chapters 7 and 8 of Brave New World
   
Friday
  Quiz on and discussion of reading; Work time on Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read chapters 9 and 10 of Brave New World
   

December 17 - 20
Monday
  Quiz on and discussion of reading; Work time on Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read chapters 11 and 12 of Brave New World
   
Tuesday
  Quiz on and discussion of reading; Work time on Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read chapters 13 and 14 of Brave New World
   
Wednesday
  Quiz on and discussion of reading; Work time on Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read chapters 15 and 16 of Brave New World
   
Thursday
  Quiz on and discussion of reading; Sharing of Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read chapters 17 and 18 of Brave New World
   
Friday
  Quiz on and discussion of reading; Sharing of Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: None
   

January 3 - 10
Friday
  Books out—Siddhartha; Sharing of Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper;
Assignment: Read "The Brahmin's Son and "With the Samanas" and write 180 words on a pithy quote from one of the the chapters
   
Monday
  Small and large group sharing of pithy quotes; Buddhism video; Sharing of Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read "Gotama" and "Awakening" and write 180 words on a pithy quote from one of the the chapters
   
Tuesday
  Small and large group sharing of pithy quotes; Buddhism video; Sharing of Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read "Kamala" and "Amongst the People" and write 180 words on a pithy quote from one of the the chapters
   
Wednesday
  Small and large group sharing of pithy quotes; Buddhism video; Sharing of Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read "Samsara" and "By the River" and write 180 words on a pithy quote from one of the the chapters
   
Thursday
  Small and large group sharing of pithy quotes; Buddhism video; Sharing of Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read "The Ferryman" and "The Son" and write 180 words on a pithy quote from one of the the chapters
   
Friday
  Small and large group sharing of pithy quotes; Buddhism video; Sharing of Transcendental Paper, or Philosopher Appreciation Paper
Assignment: Read "Om" and "Govinda" and write 180 words on a pithy quote from one of the the chapters
   
   

class reading and discussion of Bagavad Gita;
January 13 - 17
Monday
  Small and large group sharing of pithy quotes; Video: Little Buddha
Assignment: Work on final paper
   
Tuesday
  Finish Video; class reading and discussion of Bagavad Gita;
Assignment: Work on final paper
   
Wednesday
  class reading and discussion of Bagavad Gita; Dali Llama video
Assignment: Work on final paper
   
Thursday
  class reading and discussion of Bagavad Gita; Dali Llama video
Assignment: Work on final paper
   
Friday
  class reading and discussion of Bagavad Gita; Dali Llama video
Assignment: Work  on final paper for sharing