Topic: civics

Social Contract Theory: Creating a Cooperative Learning Environment

Wooden people figures shaking hands

Materials needed: John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government, chapters two and eight. An alternative is James Rachels’ The Elements of Moral Philosophy, chapter eleven, “The Idea of a Social Contract” (see full citations and links in the ‘Resources’ section) Questionnaire (see below) Poster board for displaying the finished constitution Optional: online discussion forum; wig and Social Contract Theory: Creating a Cooperative Learning Environment

One Rule Game

Photograph of a circle of students engaged in a lively philosophical discussion

This exercise attempts to give students the opportunity to formulate rules that they themselves would choose to be governed by. It explores the rules that they, as a community, would agree upon. And it tries to implement these rules in the classroom setting so as to test their viability in the crucible of real-world experience. One Rule Game

The Trial of Socrates

bust of socrates

Introduction In 399 BCE Socrates was tried by an Athenian jury on charges of (a) denying the existence of deities, (b) introducing new deities, and (c) corrupting the youth of Athens.  Socrates was found guilty and ultimately executed.  His trial and death have remained controversial.  This activity involves retrying Socrates, using as the sources of The Trial of Socrates