Spohie's World

[Mommyfaithe]

Has anyone used Sophies World as a spine for a Philosophy course?? If so, what other books did you use and how did you schedule it?? I can see this book as a really fun spine. Is there a course that uses this book or has anyone else here used this book for a spine?? Comments on it??
Thanks,
Faithe

[clwcain]

:lurk5:

My wife loves this book. I haven't read it, yet, but we're :bigear: if anyone has done the heavy lifting of preparing lessons around it.

Failing that, it wouldn't hurt just to read it without some sort of lesson plans, could it? :)

[Jenny in Florida]

I did assign it as part of her philosophy course, but not as the spine. We used a book called Essential Philosophy as the spine, in conjunction with primary source readings from a textbook. She read Sopie's World alongside those, though, and it was definitely a bit hit. In fact, she said it was her favorite read of that year, and now holds a place on her favorite books of all time list.

Because it wasn't the spine for her course, I just assigned chunks for her to read each week. She ended up reading ahead and finishing it early, though.

[Mandy in TN]

My ds used Sophie's World and DK's Story of Philosophy. We used some of the information from DR. RAYMOND NIGHAN'S Sophie’s World Chapter Notes (http://www.stjohns-chs.org/general_studies/philosophy/indexSW/swindex.html). There is certainly enough info there to do a chapter a week.

HTH-
Mandy

[Mommyfaithe]

LOL...I picked it up and started reading it yeasterday and so far, I love it....what a painless way to introduce a teen to philosophy.....i just wish I had a better grasp on the subject so I could flesh it out better myself...
Faithe

[Mandy in TN]

LOL...I picked it up and started reading it yeasterday and so far, I love it....what a painless way to introduce a teen to philosophy.....i just wish I had a better grasp on the subject so I could flesh it out better myself...
Faithe
Dr. Nighan's notes will help you flesh it out.

By the way, I adore Mary Cassatt. The little hands and feet of the children are just precious. Your avatar is so sweet.

Mandy

[elizabeth]

I graduated with a double major in Philosophy and Biology. Having said that, these outlines, discussion questions and supplemental reading are outstanding in depth and breadth. Thank you for sharing !!!I plan to use these next year with dd. You win the prize and take the proverbial cake for finding this superb site and sharing it here. It is funny, just when I begin to think that I will have to write something for our use because I cannot seem to locate a good resource one of the terrific ladies here will come forth with a resource that is perfect for our needs. Thanks so much .:party:

[Mandy in TN]

I graduated with a double major in Philosophy and Biology. Having said that, these outlines, discussion questions and supplemental reading are outstanding in depth and breadth. Thank you for sharing !!!I plan to use these next year with dd. You win the prize and take the proverbial cake for finding this superb site and sharing it here. It is funny, just when I begin to think that I will have to write something for our use because I cannot seem to locate a good resource one of the terrific ladies here will come forth with a resource that is perfect for our needs. Thanks so much .:party:

:001_smile: Glad to recycle. I believe that it was someone here that shared it with me.

Mandy

[Liza Q]

We also used Sophie's World as part of a Philosophy class (using Does the Center Hold? (http://www.amazon.com/Does-Center-Hold-Introduction-Philosophy/dp/0073535710/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213296692&sr=8-2) as a spine) and I did not have my daughter study it - she just read it and we discussed it. She read it after she had read the other books I had and really enjoyed it. I do wish I had known about these notes, though - they look great!

[Katia]

Smarr Publishers use Sophie's World as the text to their Philosophy course. It is new this year from what I gather. We are looking at the possibility of using it next year. Glad to hear Sophie's World is a good book!

[Chris in VA]

I was thinking of using it, but Eliana has some reservations that make a lot of sense. Maybe she'll chime in, or you could pm her.

[CynthiaOK]

Another really enjoyable read is by Steve Wilkens, Good Ideas from Questionable Christians and Outright Pagans - An Introduction to Key Thinkers and Philosophies. He is a professor of philosophy and ethics at Azusa Pacific Univ. I've taught World Views of the Western World for 3 years and will be teaching it again next year. I am adding this text because it is makes the subject so approachable for youth and WVWW doesn't really have a "spine". We will also be using Sophie's World.

FYI, Wilkens is a Christian author.

[Mommyfaithe]

My ds used Sophie's World and DK's Story of Philosophy. We used some of the information from DR. RAYMOND NIGHAN'S Sophie’s World Chapter Notes (http://www.stjohns-chs.org/general_studies/philosophy/indexSW/swindex.html). There is certainly enough info there to do a chapter a week.

HTH-
Mandy

WOW!!! Thank You so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~~Faithe

[Mommyfaithe]

Thanks, I'll check it out.
Faithe

[Jane in NC]

I was thinking of using it, but Eliana has some reservations that make a lot of sense. Maybe she'll chime in, or you could pm her.

Here is Eliana's post (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showpost.php?p=149597&postcount=2) with a less than favorable comment.

After hearing so much praise for the book, I gave it a try and could not finish it. I studied a little philosophy in college and continue to read philosophers now and again. For me, Sophie's World was not a good fit; my son prefers to read the philosophers themselves, as opposed to reading about them. But that does not mean that the book does not serve its purpose as a gentle introduction. (I cannot comment on Eliana's charge that the author is inaccurrate since I couldn't make it through the entire book.)

Jane

[Laurel-in-CA]

As a book, it was frustrating because it ends with the plot falling apart into incoherence...which mirrors the discipline it is describing.

[Gwen in VA]

My son had numerous complaints against the book, most of which involved the author's naturalistic worldview.

My son said that he prefers to read what the philosophers say themselves, so after reading Sophie's World he went off on a philophical great books binge. (A good result!)

I too found the book falling into incoherence to be very bizarre. I t may mirror the way philosophy has moved, but it doesn't help in understanding that movement.