Frequently Asked Questions
The School for Philosophy, Economics, and the Humanities offers courses to learners all over the world online as well as in-person in beautiful spaces in New York City and Philadelphia. We have plans to offer in-person courses in more cities soon.
The School for Philosophy, Economics, and the Humanities offers small, seminar-style courses for adults that usually meet for two hours once per week for four weeks. They are modeled on the type of rigorous, discussion-based seminars found in small liberal arts colleges and graduate programs with the difference that in our courses there are no grades or written homework. Our courses strike a balance between respectful, serious discussion focused on the assigned text and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where free coffee (in-person daytime classes) and free beer or wine (in-person evening classes) are served. Students are also welcome to bring snacks to share.
On the one hand, courses are designed to make difficult concepts accessible without 'dumbing them down' or oversimplifying. On the other hand, for more advanced readers, instructors will address nuances in argumentation as well as the reception of texts by commentators over time. Optional supplemental reading is usually made available and addressed at appropriate points during the discussion. In all cases, instructors assure the discussion remains rigorously grounded in the texts at hand.
Our instructors design courses with the schedules of working adults in mind and assign a manageable amount of reading. Optional additional readings are usually made available. Courses are limited to 20 students.
Other than doing the reading, no written work is expected from students. That said, the instructor may invite students who are interested in doing so (usually no more than one per class) to give a five-minute presentation on their impressions from the reading. The goal is to foster a positive and relaxed atmosphere charged with fascinating ideas.
Most in-person classes are followed by a social hour where friendly conversation continues over food and drink at a nearby bar or restaurant.
Our courses are designed to be appropriately challenging for learners at all levels. There are no prerequisites.
Instructors make difficult concepts accessible without dumbing them down or oversimplifying. They also address nuances in argumentation as well as the reception of texts by commentators over time.
For more advanced readers, optional supplemental reading is made available and addressed at appropriate points during the discussion. Instructors keep the discussion rigorously grounded in the texts at hand. As such, courses are suitable for learners reading both at an undergraduate and at a graduate level.
Our instructors are chosen for their affirming and inclusive teaching styles. They are life-long learners just as much as they are teachers. They have a terminal degree in one or more fields of expertise, are in the process of obtaining one, or have other significant experience with serious intellectual work. They often teach interdisciplinary courses meant to open new perspectives across narrow disciplinary boundaries.
When they are not teaching a course at The School for Philosophy, Economics, and the Humanities, you will often find them taking a course along side other students.
Interested in teaching for us? Please send your CV to info@theschoolforphilosophy.org (We are also interested in teachers capable of teaching in languages other than English.).
Our students are adults interested in life-long learning and socializing with other people who like to read, think, and talk about important books and ideas. Some have more experience than others reading challenging texts, but courses are always adapted for readers of all levels.
Our students come from diverse walks of life and hold many types of jobs. They represent a broad spectrum of ages, races, ethnicities, sexualities, religions, and educational experiences. All are warmly welcomed.
Our seminars and events are held online or in-person in New York City and Philadelphia (We plan to offer in-person seminars in more cities soon).
In-person seminars and events are held in inviting, comfortable spaces meant to encourage stimulating conversation away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Free coffee is provided during daytime classes and free beer or wine is provided during evening classes. Students are welcome to bring snacks to share with the group.
Our four-week seminars usually cost $200. 70% of this money is paid directly to the instructor. The rest helps subsidize free events and keep the school in existence.
If you are having trouble affording a course, please write an email to info@theschoolforphilosophy.org (we will never ask for proof of your financial situation).
We offer a 100% 'no questions asked' refund on all courses up until 24 hours after the first class meeting. After that time, no refunds can be made.
The School for Philosophy, Economics, and the Humanities is currently pursuing status as a 501c3 organization.
Late enrollment is usually possible at the discretion of the instructor before the second meeting has happened. Please email info@theschoolforphilosophy.org to request a late enrollment.
If you are having trouble affording a course, please write an email to info@theschoolforphilosophy.org. We will never ask for proof of your financial situation.
Instructors will email enrolled students with a reading list at least one week before the start of a seminar.
If you have enrolled but have not received an email from the instructor, please email info@theschoolforphilosophy.org.
Instructors design courses with the schedules of working adults in mind. They will assign a reasonable amount of required reading and assign optional additional readings for those with extra time. The exact amount of required reading will depend on factors like the subject matter (for example philosophy versus poetry), the difficulty of the text, and the goals of the instructor. We encourage you not to let a concern with the amount of reading keep you from trying a course! Instructors are usually happy to adapt reading assignments to students on an individual basis.
To protect the privacy of instructors and students, we do not allow recordings of any seminars.
Some free talks and events may be recorded and made available online.
We are very interested in hearing from excellent teachers around the world! We are also interested in teachers capable of teaching in languages other than English.
If you are interested in teaching for us, please email your CV and a brief description of the course you'd like teach to info@theschoolforphilosophy.org.
Have other questions?
You can email us at info@theschoolforphilosophy.org or call us at (917) 563-2007.
We look forward to hearing from you!