Philosophy

Arguably, philosophy is the base study from which all other studies arise. Translating the Greek expression for ‘love of wisdom’, it is the discipline of systematic reasoning. There is no limit to the areas of human experience to which this discipline does not apply.

I am interested in several of those areas, but my main interest in teaching the process of philosophy. That involves;
  • The understanding of the concepts
  • A systematic ordering of points and counters
  • The presentation of the whole in a clear manner
Whilst many people hold opinions, few can scrutinise and explain them. As Mill put it, “he who knows only one side of an argument knows very little even of that”, by which he meant that holding strong opinions without exposing them to criticism simply demonstrates that those opinions cannot be properly defended.

In examinations at all levels, clarity of explanation is required as a priority. Being able to explain, to criticise and to defend a stream of reasoning is the job of philosophy.

Many students have difficulty achieving good grades in Philosophy examinations. Often that is because they are unable to write well, rather than because they do not understand the subjects. I am able to assist with that difficulty.

The topics within philosophy are in themselves difficult and students at all levels misunderstand one crucial point, which is that a response to questions in examinations is a demonstration of the ability to make the difficult clear. Too often candidates insist on producing complex expressions of all that they know in the hope that markers will credit the weight of words. That is wrong. I can instruct on the organisation of written responses.

That is not to say that the analysis for understanding of the content of philosophical matters is unimportant, and because I have been studying the works of some major thinkers for many years, I can often explain some abstruse point and so support the development of students’ own understanding.

The topics that I have taught include; Epistemology [the theories of knowledge], Ethics, Political Theory, Aesthetics, Science and, Theology.

Additionally, I have taught philosophy and theology to adults for quite a long time too, and I am interested in providing assistance and encouragement to people who are fascinated by topics within the generally ambit of philosophy, but are not necessarily wanting to enter examinations.

Some of the major philosophers to whom these topics are referenced include: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Locke and Kant, Bentham and Mill, Marx, Nietzsche and Habermaas, Wittgenstein.
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