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Teaching Philosophy
What works, what doesn't

Teaching Philosophy

itinerant
reluctant marxist

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Posted 08/16/08 - 10:06 AM: Subject: Teaching Philosophy	#1
I'm about to start teaching my first couple philosophy classes: Intro to Philosophy and Intro to Ethics. I know at least a few of the regulars here teach, so I'd be interested in any advice you have. Also, if you've had any experiences with especially good or bad teachers, what do you think made them good or bad? Which methods work, and which don't? Thanks.
Philosophy should be more than an apology for capitalism

SIR2U
Why

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Posted 08/16/08 - 11:00 AM:	#2
Whatever you do makes no difference if it has no connection to real life. Make it real by using real life situations and make the students think about what they would do in those situations. Make them form opinions and then argue against them. And never promise to give them all the answers, because you won't have them all.
Unknown Alanic wiseman. "Ignorance and bad teeth have at least one thing in common. Keeping your mouth closed makes them both less obvious"

unenlightened
psychobabble

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Posted 08/16/08 - 02:58 PM:	#3
itinerant wrote: Also, if you've had any experiences with especially good or bad teachers, what do you think made them good or bad? Which methods work, and which don't? The ideal introduction to ethics is that very question. The other day I had an email asking for computer markable (ie multiple choice) questions to test students in ethics. Do you think this is: (a) a bad idea. (b) a completely mad idea. (c) an appalling idea. (d) a sign of the degeneracy of the education system. Tick one or more answers if you must, but please don't tell me about it.
The observer is the observed. J Krishnamurti "Philosophy, to the Philistine, is an evolutionary process, watched over by some sort of brisk dynamic Providence, and culminating in the supreme insight of modern thought." John Cowper Powys

Banno
Tenured Poster

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Posted 08/16/08 - 03:44 PM:	#4
Tutorials or lectures? For a tutorial, listen rather than talk. Let them work it out. Throw in the occasional sabot, and keep the conversation on the topic. For a lecture, don't use powerpoint.
Davidson: We make maximum sense of the words and thoughts of others when we interpret in a way that optimizes agreement. Russel Morris: There's a meaning there, but the meaning there doesn't really mean a thing...

iamtheother
Philosophy B.A. (almost)

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Posted 08/16/08 - 07:26 PM:	#5
The best professor's that I've ever been taught by have been very clear with their biases, and then taught what counters them. This is also explicitly connected to being humble about your own philosophical knowledge. Also, people ask stupid questions. A good teacher has some control of the direction the class is going. A significant rant from a "know-it-all" (who knows little) about Deleuze in a class about language that is focusing on Anglo-American thinkers is just not important, or on topic. Shut them down and encourage them to approach you either outside of class or in a paper. Oh, and, this obviously depends on your style but; assign "thought" papers and explication papers (or something in between). In my experience there is less of your own thinking involved in writing papers that are doing nothing but summarizing what you just covered. Sorry, I'm nearly done with undergrad (transferring around means I've had 5.5 years of an undergrad philosophy experience) and these things are fresh in my mind as I begin to think about my own entry into graduate school and the teaching I would like to do.

Tobias
Metaphysical exorcist

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Posted 08/17/08 - 12:40 AM:	#6
It really depends on what your style is and what you like doing. I think the best teachers are enthusiastic and show it. They talk in a way that says, "look, it is exciting to think about these things and I am ahead of you and so I will show you how to do that yourself". Don't think whether it will be interesting, just assume that because you find it interestig it is. Be self confident and prepare well. I always felt good preparation to be the key. Of course your lecture might go totally different, but that is no problem, as long as you have a base line, just for yourself. A good preparation causes you to immerse in the topic and also find anecdotes and links with current debates in society and you have mch more space to maneuver if you or the class feels like it. Be a bit of a show man too. I don't know if you are male of female, but with the nickname I guess male. Well, be also someone that stands there. They expect a teacher, someone with attitude, who doesn't shrink when a question comes. Sometimes challenge the audience, "come on, fight me, think you know better, let's go ahead". In 99 out of 100 you win because you know much more. It makes students look up to you. Don't be mean or sarcastic, just stand your ground and be approachable, also by challenging students. My best lecture I gave was when a young Pakistani student was strongly debating with me. It keeps things sharp, though yes at some point in that situation ask to continue after class because you have a story to finish. Also be firm there. You direct the show. regards Tobi Edited by Tobias on 08/17/08 - 06:39 AM
"The Power of Kant compels you" "The Power of Kant compels you" "The Power of Kant compels you"

ManiacJack
aka W

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Posted 08/18/08 - 10:38 AM:	#7
I had an ethics and a philosophy class; they both sucked. My teachers talked about what some old guy said, then told us to choose one guy, and then we could write a paper on a moral ambiguity / logical fallacy from one of the old dude's perspectives. I've been told this is the norm for a intro class, but it was entirely too boring. Thus I spent a good amount of time in class hung-over in order for the material to seem enlightening- maybe this is the tip you need: Get everyone drunk the night before. // Ethics cannot be taught; Socrates noticed this a couple thousand years ago, so all I can say is Good Luck. Philosophy needs to be taught comparatively, not as some sequential listing of bad writers. Philosophy is not history; philosophy is thought. Have your students compare and contrast philosophical outlooks [maybe do this for ethical dilemmas]. Your grading criteria needs to be qualitative, not quantitative- and only within the confines of the students processed work [not within class debation ]. However, grading qualitatively does not entitle you to grade on the basis of logic/beleif, as accepted work is not a debate. So, I reiterate; grade within the confines of the text you are handed- without outside interpretation. You need to point the students in a direction with your words; not deter them with your marks; this is philosophy, afterall, not mathematics. It is better for a student to have his/her own philosophy than to not have any philosophy. // For more notes on Brainwashing 101, call me @ 911-4127
Future Tense Passed Relief the Escapist wrote: Bullshit, self-deception, self-aggrandizement. Explains everything, really...

larryn
SuperChomsky

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Posted 08/18/08 - 12:25 PM:	#8
My philosophy teacher was also a psychologist/counselor, so he treated everyone as if their opinions were always correct, even if someone said something completely assanine or stupid. It ended up making the class really confused and would lead to talking about some random tangent or not understanding the original issue. Don't be afraid to let the students know if they are wrong or are making an invalid assumption.

shenyue
(post)modern dervish

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Posted 08/27/08 - 07:26 AM:	#9
itinerant, I wish you the best. The only thing I'd express to you is that philosophy is stale. Since even an intro to phil is prob not required, your students hopefully have some interest in it already. Force them to participate by doing your best Socrates. Make them tell you what they think philosophy is or should be. From there (if you have the flexibility of the syllabus) organically present excerpts to help them with the pillars of the subject. And always ask the students to apply the texts with analogies in their lives, in their world. Dance with them.
Take some workable combination of Lao Zi, Gibran, Plato, and Benjamin, and one might actually grasp toward a unified theory.

itinerant
reluctant marxist

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Posted 08/29/08 - 07:37 AM:	#10
Thanks to everyone who posted. Your comments helped settle my nerves and gave me a clearer sense of the direction I want to take. Teaching, ho!
Philosophy should be more than an apology for capitalism

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