MORAL PHILOSOPHY |
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WAYS OF WISDOM: THE RATIONALE
WAYS OF WISDOM is a series of lessons designed to introduce students to Western and Eastern philosophy from Medieval to Modern times, including Aristotle (who deserves what?); Cicero (stoicism); Confucius; Buddha and many more.
The lessons do not have to be delivered in any specific order. The references to the beliefs of the philosophers is kept to a minimum, and does not require any philosophical knowledge by teachers.
What the lessons do is provide pupils with the opportunity to formulate ideas and opinions, and debate aspects of life the normal curriculum does not provide .
The recommended ‘speaking & listening’ format is for pupils to talk first in pairs, then to join up into a group of 4, and finally to feedback to the whole class. This allows pupils the opportunity to rehearse their opinions in a non-threatening setting prior to speaking publicly.
Each lesson is gauged to last approximately one hour, although this will depend on the wish of the teacher. The carrying out of the lessons offers pupils the opportunity to enhance their speaking and listening skills, including turn-taking, and responding to other pupil’s ideas.
The lessons also lend themselves to all kinds of spin-off activities. For example the lessons could be filmed, or audio recorded, and played back, so pupils are able to assess how well they have expressed themselves; conveyed what they wanted to say, and includes a speaking and listening self-evaluation proforma for pupils. There are also many ways in which the speaking and listening can be converted into Literacy, through note-taking, summarising, report writing etc.
FINAL NOTE: To provide pupils with a visual scaffold there are pictures on websites such as Wikipedia of the philosophers referred to in the lessons.
WAYS OF WISDOM
An interactive exploration of Western & Eastern Philosophy
WESTERN PHILOSOPHY
LESSON ONE
ETHICS
PHILOSOPHY:
ETHICS:
Socrates (469BC-399BC; the founder of modern Western philosophy)
Socrates said to solve a problem it has to be broken down into a series of questions
Socrates said, ‘the highest form of Human Excellence is to question oneself and others.’
ACTIVITY 1: Make a statement, for example: ‘Are school holidays too long?’
Ask the students to think of as many questions as they can related to this topic, both for and against the idea of having less holidays/more holidays, or keep the present number of holidays
EXAMPLE: If children/schools had shorter holidays would they learn more, and therefore have better futures?
FEEDBACK
Socrates was famous for saying; ‘I know that I know nothing.’ Ask the students what they think he meant by this>
FEEDBACK
ANSWER: Socrates thought everyone thinks they know a lot, but really they don’t, and are not wise at all. He was wise because he knew that he knew nothing (or very little)
What might this tell us about people’s opinions?
ACTIVITY 2: Socrates believed that teaching people how to behave is a waste of time. People either know right from wrong, or they do not.
Ask the students to list in pairs the reasons why some people are badly behaved at school, and others are not. For example, is it because:
FEEDBACK
Socrates said that wrongdoing is a result of ignorance, and those who do wrong know no better. Do you agree with him?
ACTIVITY 3:Socrates believed the best way for people to live is to better themselves, rather than always trying to make more and more money:
Ask the students to decide which is more important to them, MONEY or being interested in LEARNING NEW THINGS (self-development)
Everyone has to justify their opinions>
FEEDBACK
PLENARY:This lesson has been a Socratic lesson. The students have been breaking down these activity subjects into a series of questions and statements. Asking questions about life ‘the enquiring mind’ helps us to more fully understand and appreciate life
FOR THE COMPLETE SET OF LESSONS see the contacts page of www.easyatlasy.weebly.com
WAYS OF WISDOM is a series of lessons designed to introduce students to Western and Eastern philosophy from Medieval to Modern times, including Aristotle (who deserves what?); Cicero (stoicism); Confucius; Buddha and many more.
The lessons do not have to be delivered in any specific order. The references to the beliefs of the philosophers is kept to a minimum, and does not require any philosophical knowledge by teachers.
What the lessons do is provide pupils with the opportunity to formulate ideas and opinions, and debate aspects of life the normal curriculum does not provide .
The recommended ‘speaking & listening’ format is for pupils to talk first in pairs, then to join up into a group of 4, and finally to feedback to the whole class. This allows pupils the opportunity to rehearse their opinions in a non-threatening setting prior to speaking publicly.
Each lesson is gauged to last approximately one hour, although this will depend on the wish of the teacher. The carrying out of the lessons offers pupils the opportunity to enhance their speaking and listening skills, including turn-taking, and responding to other pupil’s ideas.
The lessons also lend themselves to all kinds of spin-off activities. For example the lessons could be filmed, or audio recorded, and played back, so pupils are able to assess how well they have expressed themselves; conveyed what they wanted to say, and includes a speaking and listening self-evaluation proforma for pupils. There are also many ways in which the speaking and listening can be converted into Literacy, through note-taking, summarising, report writing etc.
FINAL NOTE: To provide pupils with a visual scaffold there are pictures on websites such as Wikipedia of the philosophers referred to in the lessons.
WAYS OF WISDOM
An interactive exploration of Western & Eastern Philosophy
WESTERN PHILOSOPHY
LESSON ONE
ETHICS
PHILOSOPHY:
ETHICS:
Socrates (469BC-399BC; the founder of modern Western philosophy)
Socrates said to solve a problem it has to be broken down into a series of questions
Socrates said, ‘the highest form of Human Excellence is to question oneself and others.’
ACTIVITY 1: Make a statement, for example: ‘Are school holidays too long?’
Ask the students to think of as many questions as they can related to this topic, both for and against the idea of having less holidays/more holidays, or keep the present number of holidays
EXAMPLE: If children/schools had shorter holidays would they learn more, and therefore have better futures?
FEEDBACK
Socrates was famous for saying; ‘I know that I know nothing.’ Ask the students what they think he meant by this>
FEEDBACK
ANSWER: Socrates thought everyone thinks they know a lot, but really they don’t, and are not wise at all. He was wise because he knew that he knew nothing (or very little)
What might this tell us about people’s opinions?
ACTIVITY 2: Socrates believed that teaching people how to behave is a waste of time. People either know right from wrong, or they do not.
Ask the students to list in pairs the reasons why some people are badly behaved at school, and others are not. For example, is it because:
- They like being badly-behaved
- They don’t care about others
FEEDBACK
Socrates said that wrongdoing is a result of ignorance, and those who do wrong know no better. Do you agree with him?
ACTIVITY 3:Socrates believed the best way for people to live is to better themselves, rather than always trying to make more and more money:
Ask the students to decide which is more important to them, MONEY or being interested in LEARNING NEW THINGS (self-development)
Everyone has to justify their opinions>
FEEDBACK
PLENARY:This lesson has been a Socratic lesson. The students have been breaking down these activity subjects into a series of questions and statements. Asking questions about life ‘the enquiring mind’ helps us to more fully understand and appreciate life
FOR THE COMPLETE SET OF LESSONS see the contacts page of www.easyatlasy.weebly.com