Philosophy in 4 Questions

Features

• PDF Curriculum: Immediately available, downloadable, printable*
• Credits: 1 credit (1 year) – Elective
• “Memorize!” & “Philosophize!” Chapter Questions
• Witty, high-hearted, fun; enjoyable reading with a Christian worldview
• Syllabus (FREE – separate download)
• Optional “philosopher’s paper” assignment included in Answer Key document
• View excerpt
• ISBN 978-1-967468-17-1

Philosophy in 4 Questions strengthens the student’s transcript, prepares them well for life, and is a favorite among families whose teens want to learn to think beyond surface level and become culture creators.

Chapters

• Chapter 1: What Is Philosophy?
• Chapter 2: Why Should Christians Care?
• Chapter 3: An Introduction to Philosophy’s First Question: What Is There? (Ontology)
• Chapter 4: Do You Exist (and If So, What Are You)?
• Chapter 5: Does the World Exist (or Is It All an Illusion)? Augustine, Descartes
• Chapter 6: Do Groups (like Companies, Countries, or Families) Exist? Narrative
• Chapter 7: Is Everything Just Physical? Two Kinds of Things: Particulars and Universals
• Chapter 8: Does God Exist (and What about Evil)? The Cosmological Argument, The Ontological Argument, The Teleological Argument, The Problem of Evil and Some Answers
• Chapter 9: Does Free Will Exist (and Do We Have It)?
• Chapter 10: Application: How to Deal with Disagreements
• Chapter 11: An Introduction to Philosophy’s Second Question: How Do We Know? (Epistemology)
• Chapter 12: What Is Truth?
• Chapter 13: Can We Learn the Truth from Others? Language and Witnesses
• Chapter 14: Do We Know through Living or Thinking? Empiricism and Rationalism
• Chapter 15: Giving Up, or Going with What Works: Skepticism and Pragmatism
• Chapter 16: Can We Just Get Back to Our Actual Experience? Phenomenology
• Chapter 17: Application: Authorities, Science, Faith, and Reason
• Chapter 18: An Introduction to Philosophy’s Third Question (Ethics)
• Chapter 19: Is It Good to Do What Is Excellent? Virtue Theory
• Chapter 20: Is It Good to Do What Creates the Most Pleasure? Utilitarianism, Epicureanism, or Hedonism, or Whatever
• Chapter 21: Is It Only Good to Do Your Duty? Deontology
• Chapter 22: Is It Only Good to Do What God Says? Divine Command
• Chapter 23: Application: Evaluating Abortion, Racism, and Sexism
• Chapter 24: An Introduction to Philosophy’s Fourth Question: The One Answer to, “Why?”
• Chapter 25: Are There Different Sources of Value?
• Chapter 26: Is There a Single Source of Value? The Value Theory behind Humanism, The Value Theory behind Environmentalism, The Value Theory behind Theism
• Chapter 27: What If There Is No Source of Value?  Nihilism
• Chapter 28: Is the Source of Value the Highest Thing? The Good and God
• Chapter 29: Application: What to Do When You Get Confused
• Chapter 30: Go Forth!

10-Day, No-Questions-Asked, Money-Back GUARANTEE on all 7Sisters curriculum!

Why Philosophy Matters

1. Philosophers shape much of the world—often without us noticing. Their ideas influence politics, healthcare, literature, culture, and even theology. Teens benefit from learning to recognize these influences.
2. Students who understand philosophical ideas and trends are better equipped to become thoughtful culture creators.
3. God values wisdom. As the author of wisdom, He calls us to pursue it. This course helps teens develop clear thinking and align their minds with God’s truth.

Philosophy in 4 Questions, a downloadable PDF curriculum, is written by Dr. Micah Tillman, teacher of philosophy and related subjects at Stanford University’s online high school. Designed at the request of homeschool students, Philosophy in 4 Questions presents the four core questions of philosophy in clear, manageable lessons:

• What is there?
• How do we know?
• What do we do about it?
• Why?

Written from a Christian worldview in an engaging style, this 115-page resource features short, accessible lessons with helpful examples. It equips teens to recognize, reflect on, and discuss important foundational ideas.

Don’t let your teens’ God-given thinking abilities go unused. With Dr. Tillman’s guidance, they can develop into thoughtful, godly philosophers—equipped for any career they choose.

Philosophy in 4 Questions includes a separate answer key and a guide for an optional philosopher’s paper. There are no tests, as philosophy courses typically assess learning through writing. The answer key helps parents evaluate work and coach their teens when needed.

No prerequisites are required, though the course serves as an excellent follow-up to History and Philosophy of the Western World.

Learn more about Philosophy in 4 Questions at these 7Sisters blogs and podcasts:

Why Your Homeschooler Needs a High School Philosophy Course

Why Teach Philosophy in Homeschool High School – Interview with Dr. Micah Tillman

How to Level Up Philosophy in 4 Questions

How to Teach Philosophy in Homeschool High School Co-op

*You may print any 7Sisters curriculum for your own family’s use.

• Print at home or use a local print shop in your area.
• Work with a printing company.
  • Watson Family Press specializes in printing homeschool curriculum. 7Sisters customers SAVE with discount code: 7SISTERS 

Hear What Families Are Saying

My 15-yr-old daughter loves your courses. She’s currently doing Philosophy in Four Questions and it has really excited her to learn things outside of the normal high school core subjects. She enjoyed the Psychology, too. Debbie S.

I really enjoyed the textbook because often times when dealing with uncomfortable or serious topics Dr. Tillman would incorporate some humor and it made the subject a little easier to digest. Philosophy has always been a great thing to study in my mind. It helps me think more clearly and it teaches me to never settle for the easiest option, and Tillman’s text book certainly made me think a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through and completing this text and I would suggest it to anyone who feels inspired to delve deeper into what they believe about the world.– James, 11th grade when he completed Philosophy in 4 Questions.

The course was super fun, and the material had so much depth. Learning not only the different schools of thought but their origins, and of their followers opened my eyes to further understand the people and circumstances around me. Breathing new life in what I thought were worn out doctrines.– Jonah, 10th grade when he completed Philosophy in 4 Questions

Reviews

Check out this review from Hippy Happy Homeschool!

7Sisters Educational Philosophy and Curriculum:

7Sisters curriculum is unique! It’s a no-busywork curriculum, adaptable to varying levels of academic rigor. Following guidelines in the curriculum, teens complete coursework that is personally meaningful to their interests, needs, and goals. Read more about the 7Sisters educational philosophy!