Four Week P4HE Course (Block 4)

This is a philosophy class for children running in four-week blocks of one-hour sessions. All times are UK time. For US homeschoolers, our later Thursday sessions are likely to be best. EDT is -5 hours, CDT -6 hours, PDT -8 hours.

Week 1: Philosophy of Art 

This week, we'll be exploring the philosophical side of art, from pictures drawn by elephants to the most expensive painting ever sold. What counts as art? Where is the meaning of a work of art? If a bad person has made great art, is ot OK to enjoy it?

Week 2: Taking to the Streets 

With examples including the momentous Black Lives Matter protests, we'll explore the ethics of direct action and civil disobedience. When do protests go too far? When do they not go far enough? What makes an issue a special case that allows the breaking of rules?

Week 3: You Know What? 

What does it mean to really know something? What’s the difference between knowing and believing?  Can you know something without knowing you know it? By the end of this session, you'll at least know what you think you know about knowledge, even if you don't know you know!

Week 4: Alien Invasion 

In this thought experiment, envious aliens take over our planet. They have plans for us that you may not like. We'll consider how you might reason with our new alien overlords, before seeing what this scenario has to say about the real world in which we live now.