Fundamentals of Argument
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Grade Level: High School & Beyond
Metaphysics – Materialism vs Dualism
This lesson plan is accessible using the Lesson Attachment above.
How is Math Like a Wildflower or a Flower Bed?
This is a quick and easy activity to inspire your students to think about math in a different way. The forced metaphor of the wildflower and flower bed in relation to math requires students to think about mathematics philosophically and not only in terms of computation. This activity can be used as a warm-up activity … How is Math Like a Wildflower or a Flower Bed?
Imagining New Realities
“Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.” – Lewis Carroll Materials needed: Computer (and projector if possible) to show video clip, paper and writing utensil, white board and dry erase marker or chalkboard and chalk Activity: Part 1: Play Video Clip Part 2: Ask students to write a list of 5 things … Imagining New Realities
Identity Activity: What makes you, you?
Materials needed: Lesson plan (warm-ups, story, and game) Space for participants to form opposing groups Description: Before presenting participants with the thought experiment, engage them in at least one warm-up. For first time philosophers and/or for longer class periods, warm-up using the “Philosophy Warm-Up” prompts. If the group has already developed basic ideas about the … Identity Activity: What makes you, you?
Conflicting Values in Environmental Ethics – The Mountain Goat Dilemma
Mountain goats are not native to Olympic National Park. They were introduced into Olympic Peninsula in the 1930s to encourage an increase of tourism via hunting. Shortly after, Olympic National Park was established. Under Park jurisdiction, hunting of any kind is forbidden, so the mountain goats placed there were protected. Olympic National Park is now … Conflicting Values in Environmental Ethics – The Mountain Goat Dilemma
Ethical Relativism
Moral Relativism Many students come to the classroom assuming values are variant. Have you heard any of the following? After all, we are all different, right? Wouldn’t it be boring if we all believed the same thing? To each his own! Celebrate diversity? Who am I to judge someone else if they feel they are … Ethical Relativism
Epistemic Adventure: Are you sure that you know?
Materials needed: Epistemic scavenger hunt document (at least 2 per group, one for before the discussion and the other for after) Orienting quotes Visual prompts Description: 1. Before presenting participants with one or more of the prompts outlined above, have them gather into pairs or small groups to think about, discuss, and fill out a … Epistemic Adventure: Are you sure that you know?
Snooping Around Snopes: Assessing Fake News
This lesson revolves around reading and discussing Carl Sagan’s “The Fine Art of Baloney Detection” and then sending students to Snopes.com to explore the large archive of hoaxes, crazes and fake news stories. Website Resource for Fact-Checking Snopes.com has become an indispensable and entertaining site for assessing the status of the urban legends and fake … Snooping Around Snopes: Assessing Fake News
Wants versus Needs Exercise
Step One: Distinguishing Wants and Needs Give the students a worksheet with the following questions: 1. What are some things you want? 2. What are some things you need? 3. What is the difference between what you want and what you need? 4. Do all people have the same wants? 5. Do all people have … Wants versus Needs Exercise
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