Joseph

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History
Philosophy
Ethics
Social Studies
History of philosophy

I can help with essay structure and recommendations. My area of expertise is 19th to 20th-century continental philosophy.

History
Philosophy
Ethics
Social Studies
History of philosophy

Lesson location

- online

About Joseph

I've been reading philosophy for as long as I can remember. However, I understand the way texts are written and the ideas themselves can sometimes be extremely complicated (almost as if they're trying to make you NOT understand). To help with this, I've grown a passion for helping fellow students overcome the barriers I've often faced when learning.

About the lesson

There are two ways conventional teachers usually approach philosophy that are challenging for students:

1. They focus on only the complex or 'big' ideas of a writer or a historical epoch.
2. They rarely approach the personal life of the philosopher in question.

While understandable, this is nonetheless a difficult method for a student to apprehend the content. What I've found effective in my education is much different. Namely, I've found that focusing on the historical background of the author helps clear up their ideas. (In other words, it makes more "concrete" otherwise confusing concepts by showing how exactly they were formed in the first place.) Additionally, connecting their smaller ideas to their larger ones, and looking at their thought as an evolution of their character, is certainly helpful. By doing this, we are given a unified and clear vision of a philosopher's purpose. Not only are they now easier to understand, but they are also more inviting to an otherwise unfamiliar student. All my best professors in life have more or less followed this method.

For example, say you are taking an existentialism or 19th-century philosophy class. There, you most certainly will encounter the ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche. Below, then, would be a lesson plan following exactly this method of teaching.

---

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900)

Early period:

1. Nietzsche's personal relationship with Wagner and his philological background.
2. Publication of 'The Birth of Tragedy' and the ideas expressed there.

Middle period:

1. Nietzsche's physical illness and his personal break with Wagner.
2. Publication of 'The Gay Science' and the ideas expressed there.

Late period:

1. Nietzsche's solitude and affirmative turn.
2. Publication of 'On the Genealogy of Morality' and 'Beyond Good & Evil' (with comparison to the ideas expressed during his early period).

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This would of course be subject to change depending on how dedicated the class or your preference is to the philosophers in question. (For instance, if a class is mostly concerned with the late period of Nietzsche's writings then we will dedicate our efforts to that area of his life. Occasional reference to other ideas and events would only be when necessary.)

And because most philosophy classes hinge on writing papers that demand exact citations, I will make a dedicated effort to provide the full reference (including page number and book) for the passages/concepts we will discuss. This is to make the citation process easier for you.

Additionally, I am open to teaching any and all learners; regardless of if for a class or a hobby.

I can help with essay structure and recommendations. My area of expertise is 19th to 20th-century continental philosophy.

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I can help with essay structure and recommendations. My area of expertise is 19th to 20th-century continental philosophy.

Lesson location

About Joseph

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

online

Other tutors in History

Sara

Heath

Casey

Sandy

Sam

Lyle

John

Ada

Simon

Altair

Victor

Julie

John

Anthony

Marc

Adam

Dr Tramayne

Carter

Mia

Nick

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