This course explores big questions about truth, knowledge, belief, and how we make sense of the world—bringing together ideas from both philosophy and psychology. Students will examine not only how we should think, but how we actually think, and why those two don’t always match.
Through discussion, short readings, thought experiments, and real-world examples, students will explore questions like: What counts as evidence? How do we know something is true? How do bias, perception, and emotion shape our thinking? Why do people believe things that aren’t true—and how are those beliefs reinforced by the media we consume?
Grounded in Effective Communication, Ethical Decision Making, and Media Fluency, students will:
Analyze arguments and ideas, identifying assumptions, bias, and how meaning is shaped across different texts and media.
Examine cognitive biases and psychological patterns that influence decision-making, belief, and perception.
Explore how media—social, digital, and traditional—can influence, persuade, or mislead, and develop strategies for engaging with information critically and responsibly.
Practice respectful dialogue, learning to understand and engage with perspectives different from their own.
Develop and communicate their own ideas clearly, using evidence and reasoning to support their thinking.
Students will work toward attainments such as analyzing how ideas develop across texts and media, identifying bias and persuasive techniques, engaging thoughtfully with others across differences, and communicating ideas with clarity and purpose.
This class is discussion-heavy and idea-driven—designed for students who are willing to question, reflect, and think deeply about both the world and themselves.
Cell Phone Policy:
The teacher and students will agree upon and regularly review a class norm for cell phone use for this class.