THIS IS A ONE-SEMESTER COURSE.

This course centers around a series of three junior novels about a group of teenage friends who embark on intellectual adventures. The first book, The Divided Line, examines the nature of thought and reality through Socrates, Plato, and Descartes. The second book, The Inverted Spectrum, concerns personal and political identity as envisioned by Locke, Newton, and Leibniz. The third book, The Categorical Imperative, explores the concepts of autonomy and rationality through Rousseau, Hume, and Kant.

Students will read each of the three books in succession and will write an essay at the end of each book, with feedback from the author of the series, who is also the course instructor. During the live class meetings, the instructor will explain the philosophical background for the assigned chapters and conduct a discussion of the content contained within them. The students will then be invited to debate key issues. Throughout the semester, the students will have the opportunity to create a philosophical magazine containing their essays and other artistic or literary work inspired by the course.

Class Meetings: Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Dates: January 13 – May 5, 2027

Student Expectations: Students will submit their answers to open-ended discussion questions before class each week.

Student Support: The instructor is available via email.

Feedback/Assessment: Oral feedback will be provided during class. Written feedback will be provided on the essays.

Materials/Supplies: Students will need the three philosophy novels The Divided Line, The Inverted Spectrum, and The Categorical Imperative, as well as the accompanying guidebooks. You can purchase a special package of all of these books here.