Classical Ethics in the Modern Classroom by Dr. Jerry Chris

What did the classical philosophers have to say about being a good citizen? How relevant are they today?

Easily adaptable for homeschool, this book explores the thoughts of classical philosophers, applies them to modern scenarios, engages children in Socratic dialogue, and illustrates each debate with examples from novels and from works by Shakespeare. 

The chapters cover the big issues that have occupied the minds of the greatest philosophers since antiquity and that still resonate with those who care about ethics and right behavior today:

• Motive vs. Consequence
• Absolutism vs. Relativism
• Moderation vs. Extremism
• Accepting Fate vs. Changing Fate
• Egoism vs. Common Good 

In the light of classical philosophy, Dr. Chris discusses guideposts that teenagers can use in modern situations. The real-life Socratic seminar examples are intended to promote critical thinking, and the references to classical literature provide the basis for interdisciplinary connections between philosophy and literature to help deep-thinking students toward further reading of the classics. 

Dr. Chris writes: "The acceptance of one major premise is necessary for complete enjoyment of this book. It is not a new premise. In fact, it was made famous by Plato, although the ancient Chinese, such as Confucius, had long been promoting it. The premise is fairly simple: good citizens and correct behavior are the direct result of knowledge and understanding."

Dr. Jerry Chris is an NBC Crystal Apple winner and was both Orange County Creative Teacher of the Year and California Teacher of the Year for gifted students.