Teaching

"Let no one when young delay to study philosophy, nor when he is old grow weary of his study. For no one can come too early or too late to secure the health of his soul." – Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus

I consider it perhaps my most important duty as an instructor to communicate the ideas of great thinkers to my students clearly and accessibly, without sacrificing depth. In the classroom, I pose thoughtful questions, make room for students to sit with them and, to the best of my Socratic abilities, follow the dialogue where they want to take it, while keeping the big picture in mind so we don't lose the forest for the trees. 

More than anything, I want to help my students cultivate the habits of mind essential to one who loves wisdom: a sense of wonder, charity in disagreement, caution in agreement, open-mindedness without credulity, intellectual humility, and a willingness to be changed by what one finds. I don't view these as merely academic virtues but as the preconditions for a life lived thoughtfully and deliberately.

Provided below are the courses I have taught, complete with their respective syllabi and student evaluations. My full teaching portfolio is also available to view at the bottom of the page.