Practical Philosophy: How to use these resources
What are these resources?
Here you will find short lessons in practical philosophy. What is practical philosophy? The best way to answer this question is to try one of the lessons. Practical philosophy is best experienced through its exercise.
What can I expect from these resources? These resources are based on Guided Practical Reflection.
- Reflection: the objective is for you to think for yourself. The resources will help you with how to think but won’t tell you what to think. The hard work will be yours.
- Practical: the resources will help you to think about the good life. That is, you will think about what kind of person you should be and what kind of life you should lead. They are practical because they are about how who you are is expressed in what you do.
- Guided: the resources will guide you on your critical thinking journey because although the choices are yours to make, not all choices are equally good. It is up to you to use the resources to determine which are good choices, choices which reflect your values in your actions.
How long will each lesson take to complete?
Each lesson has a time guide, but please note that you should allow yourself time to reflect, so, for example, 2 – 3 hours of work should be spread over a week.
What else do I need to complete a lesson?
You don’t need anything else. Ideally, it is best to work through these lessons with a small group of friends because exchanging ideas with others will help stimulate discussion. However, it is possible to work through the lessons by yourself.
Who are these resources suitable for?
These lessons are aimed at adults, roughly 16 years old and above. However, should a younger child be interested in engaging with the ideas, they are welcome to. Occasionally there are resources specifically designed for younger children and these are clearly signposted.
What order should I do these lessons in?
Feel free to dip into whichever topic you find interesting. However, some lessons are introductory and it is strongly recommended that you complete at least some of these introductory lessons before moving onto the intermediate ones. Some lessons require you to have completed earlier lessons – this is always clearly stated at the start of the lesson.
