Online Introduction to Philosophy Class for Catholic Homeschoolers Spring 2012

Introduction to Philosophy

Description: Using Daniel J. Sullivan's An Introduction to Philosophy: The Perennial Principles of the Classical Realist Tradition as a backbone, this class first traces the origins of philosophy from the Pre-Socratic philosophers up to Aristotle. It then gives a systematic presentation of the natures of things, moving from this to the more specific topic of the nature of the human person. Approximately one half of the text will be covered, leaving for a future course the consideration of the right action of man as well as the consideration of being. Other readings will be supplied by the instructor. This class includes lectures, readings, study questions, essays, quizzes, and tests.

Instructor: Kenneth Rolling, M.A.

Age Range: 9th-12th grades

Live Class Time: 12:00 pm ET Thursdays

Course Information Packet: Introduction to Philosophy

Pre-requisite(s): Logic or work in argumentative writing are recommended, but not required.

The Trivium: Language Arts and Philosophy for High School

(10th-12th grade) September 5-December 23; Live class meets Thursdays at 3:30 pm ET.

Instructor: Kenneth Rolling. This course uses the wonderful book by Sr. Miriam Joseph, The Trivium: The Liberal Arts of Logic, Grammar, and Rhetoric: Understanding the Nature and Function of Language, to thoroughly invigorate the study of language. This class will explore the very nature of language, progress through the construction of propositions and arguments, consider the various fallacies, and inquire into the art of persuasion, all while keeping the goal of language firmly in mind: truth. Homework will include weekly readings, memorization, worksheets, and quizzes. There will be a final test and a paper dealing with a predetermined topic, which will be submitted in two drafts.

@The Rolling Acres School.

The Language Arts and History at R.A.S.

If you are looking to get your homeschool back to the basics of the language arts, The Rolling Acres School is offering a nice variety of courses in the fall to this end. Kenneth Rolling is teaching two high-school courses, The Trivium and The Classical Mind, and two middle-school courses, Grammar and The Greeks. The Trivium and Grammar courses are part of the core curriculum section which focuses on language arts and philosophy, and The Classical Mind and The Greeks are part of the core curriculum section that focuses on history, but includes written assignments and projects that foster the skills learned in The Trivium and Grammar courses. I encourage you to go to The Rolling Acres School website and to read the course descriptions!

Philosophy for the Summer

Summer Parent-Student Reading Group: Sophie's World

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July 25-August 11, 2011. Discussion class every Monday and Thursday 8:30-10:00 pm ET (6 classes).

Instructor: Kenneth Rolling. Students and their parents will meet with the instructor every Monday and Thursday to discuss the book Sophie's World: a Novel about the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder. In between group meetings, parents and students will have a set of study questions to answer as they read. This will help fuel parent-student conversation about the book as well as make discussion meetings more fruitful.

THE ROLLING ACRES SCHOOL