Philosophy as the Art of Living invites high school students to explore the profound connections between philosophy and modern life. While philosophy is often seen as a theoretical discipline that has little practical value, many of history’s greatest thinkers, entrepreneurs, and leaders have turned to ancient wisdom to guide their practical lives. This course will teach students the practical value of philosophy through a close study of the personal journals of the great Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius who was, himself, a Stoic philosopher.
Expected learning outcomes
- Learn the basics of argument and logical reasoning
- Develop and improve critical thinking skills
- Learn how to think more deeply about their emotions
- Learn the basics of Stoicism
Instructor: Paul Musso
Paul Musso received his PhD in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022. Since then, he has been teaching a wide variety of courses on ancient Greek philosophy, political philosophy, ethics, bioethics, and philosophy of law. Recently, he has been researching the ways in which philosophy can help us deal with the problems of modern life and make a practical difference to not only how we live but how we think and feel.
