Detailed Lesson Plan:  

Week 1a: Reading Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”—what is it? 

Week 1b: Diagramming the “Allegory of the Cave” 

Week 2a: Discussing the problems with “Allegory of the Cave” 

Week 2b: Writing Task #1 and in-class evaluation and feedback 

Week 3a: Reading Descartes’ “First Meditation”—what is it? 

Week 3b: Breaking down “I think, therefore I am”—premises and conclusions 

Week 4a: Proving/disproving “I think, therefore I am” 

Week 4b: Writing Task #2 and in-class evaluation and feedback 

Week 5a: Reading Kant’s “Categorical Imperative”—what is it? 

Week 5b: Introduction to Kantian ethics 

Week 6a: Discussing the problems with the “Categorical Imperative” 

Week 6b: Writing Task #3 and in-class evaluation and feedback 

Week 7a: Reading Jeremy Benthan’s theory of utilitarianism—what is it? 

Week 7b: Discussing the pros and cons of utilitarianism 

Week 8a: In-class debate: Kant versus Bentham 

Week 8b: Writing Task #4 and in-class evaluation and feedback 

Week 9a: Reading an excerpt from Satre’s Existentialism is a Humanism 

Week 9b: What is existentialism? 

Week 10a: What is individualism and why is it important to existentialism? 

Week 10b: Writing Task #5 and in-class evaluation and feedback 

Week 11a: Overview of Plato, Descartes, Kant, Bentham and Sartre 

Week 11b: In-class debate: pretend to be a major philosopher 

Week 12a: Final Writing Project #1 and in-class evaluation/feedback 

Week 12b: Final Writing Project #2 and in-class evaluation/ feedback 

Class Title: Module III 

Objectives:  

✓ Critically review philosophical texts from philosophers such as Plato, Descartes, Kant, Bentham, and Sartre

✓ Practice breaking down arguments from major philosophers

✓ Apply your understanding of philosophical inquiry, ethics, and logic in writing to form your own philosophical perspective(s)

Learning Outcomes: 

✓ Can identify premises, conclusions, and arguments in writings from philosophers

✓ Gain a strong understanding of how a logical argument is formed, defended, and refuted

✓ Gain a deeper understanding of how to apply philosophy to multiple disciplines

Class Timeline: 

✓ 45 mins. per lesson (10 minutes for instruction, 30 minutes for discussion & debate, and 5 minutes for homework review & Q/A) 

✓ Have lessons twice per week

Lesson Overview:   

      Part 1:  

                  ✓ Who is Plato? 

                  ✓ What is Plato’s Allegory of the Cave? 

                  ✓ What are the Five Stages in the Allegory of the Cave? 

                  ✓ What are the problems with the Allegory of the Cave? 

                  ✓ Writing Task #1: “What is the purpose of knowledge?” 

                  ✓ Evaluation & feedback 

      Part 2: 

                  ✓ Who is René Descartes? 

                  ✓ What is Descartes’ “First Meditation?” 

                  ✓ What does “I think, therefore I am” mean? 

                  ✓ Can we prove or disprove the statement, “I think, therefore I am?” 

                  ✓ Writing Task #2: “Does thinking come before existing?” 

                  ✓ Evaluation & feedback 

       Part 3: 

                  ✓ Who is Immanuel Kant? 

                  ✓ What is Kant’s “Categorical Imperative?” 

                  ✓ Do you agree or disagree with Kant? Why or why not? 

                  ✓ What are the problems with the “Categorical Imperative?” 

                  ✓ Writing Task #3: “How should we treat others?” 

                  ✓ Evaluation & feedback 

       Part 4: 

                  ✓ Who is Jeremy Bentham? 

                  ✓ What is his theory of utilitarianism? 

                  ✓ Do you agree or disagree with utilitarianism? Why or why not? 

                  ✓ What are the problems with utilitarianism? 

                  ✓ Writing Task #4: “Is there such a thing as a ‘greater good?’” 

                  ✓ Evaluation & feedback 

       Part 5: 

                  ✓ Who is Jean-Paul Sartre? 

                  ✓ What is existentialism? 

                  ✓ What is individualism? 

                  ✓ Why are individualism and existentialism complicated? 

                  ✓ Writing Task #5: “What is my greater purpose?” 

                  ✓ Evaluation & feedback 

       Part 6: 

                  ✓ Which philosopher do you identify with the most? 

                  ✓ Which philosopher do you identify with the least? 

                  ✓ Final Writing Project #1: Form a written defense of a philosopher 

                  ✓ Evaluation & feedback 

                  ✓ Final Writing Project #2: Form a written critique of a philosopher 

                  ✓   Evaluation & feedback