(1) What is philosophy?

• Is there conflict between ‘science’ and ‘philosophy’?

• What can philosophy be used for?

• Who is a philosopher?

• What separates mere belief from philosophy?

• Does everyone have a philosophy?

(2) What is the nature of reality?

• What is truth?

• How do we trust what we think is true?

• How can we be sure we experience reality the same?

• Do we wrongfully take some things as assumptions?

• What influences how we experience reality?

(3) What does it mean to live the good life?

• How should we structure society?

• What does it mean for something to be ‘moral’?

• What role should the state play in our lives?

• How should we decide how to act?

• What does it mean for something to be ‘good’?

Highlight of Camp - Capstone Project:

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• Each set of camp sessions is centered around a capstone project: campers will engage with one of the key dialogues by Plato and create their own answer to the problems posed within it.

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• Reading the text will take place both in and outside of class, campers are expected to come to each class prepared to discuss the text with their peers and work together to unravel its mysteries.

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• Over the 8 sessions, campers will develop a strong understanding of the dialogue, the different arguments proposed in it, and critically assess these arguments. The capstone will conclude with campers writing and presenting their own resolution to the problem, attempting to resolve the aporia (or philosophical puzzle) within them.

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• Examples:

  • ​The Laches: What is courage?

  • The Meno: How do we cultivate virtue?

  • The Euthyphro: What is piety?

  • The Theaetetus: What is knowledge?

  • The Crito: How should we engage in unjust laws?