(This is the lecture version of this class. See "(Discussion)..." for the smaller, conversation-focused version) Can we ever be satisfied? We all have (seemingly irrational) obsessions from time to time: - A “dream school” - A crush you can’t get out of your head. - A song you've been playing on a loop for hours. - A belief that's unshakable, even when it seems irrational. We try to justify ourselves, while feeling hopeless under an all-powerful idea that is holding us captive. We will study the philosophy of Kant, Plato, Rousseau, Hobbes, and more, to try to answer questions like: - Does "love at first sight" really exist? - How is thinking different from and similar to feeling? - Can you talk yourself into or out of love? - Can we control what or whom we desire? - Are we ultimately in love with ourselves? - Am I falling in love with these philosophers (you might, honestly, and I'd be the *last* person to judge you), or the beauty of their words? My goal is not to tell you *what* to think, but to provide you with passages to meditate on and a space for you to practice exploring abstract ideas and questions.

(This is the smaller, conversation-focused version of this class. See "(Lecture)..." for the larger class.) **Can we ever be satisfied?** We all have (seemingly irrational) obsessions from time to time: - A “dream school” - A crush you can’t get out of your head. - A song you've been playing on a loop for hours. - A belief that's unshakable, even when it seems irrational. We try to justify ourselves, while feeling hopeless under an all-powerful idea that is holding us captive. We will study the philosophy of Kant, Plato, Rousseau, Hobbes, and more, to try to answer questions like: - Does "love at first sight" really exist? - How is thinking different from and similar to feeling? - Can you talk yourself into or out of love? - Can we control what or whom we desire? - Are we ultimately in love with ourselves? - Am I falling in love with these philosophers (you might, honestly, and I'd be the *last* person to judge you), or the beauty of their words? This class is far from a lecture. My goal is not to tell you *what* to think, but to provide you with passages to meditate on and a space for you to practice exploring abstract ideas and questions. I provide just enough structure--with passages from different philosophers to give you ideas to think about--to facilitate a conversation.

Why are football players kneeling during the national anthem, and why is our president so upset about it? It all comes down to *property* -- the world's most contentious subject, according to the famous William Blackstone. *What is property?* Has there *ever* been a universally agreed-upon definition? From plagiarism to city planning, cultural appropriation to music "sampling" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2buaOnQ6dc), health insurance to environmental regulation policy, just about every topic involves the concept of property -- the issue is that we do not always agree on what our rights are (or ought to be). We will examine various examples of property claims and noted philosophers in different contexts, but I encourage you to bring up an issue that you find especially intriguing/complex. Examples: Have you been a victim of plagiarism? Do you firmly believe that your favorite song has every right to sample from an old song without paying the writer?

We've all been there: standing in front of a computer in the library during passing time, rushing to finish a paper due in 5 minutes that you've had weeks to complete. We're all (ideally) taught to pay attention, manage our time wisely, and somehow comprehend everything we learn in class. It can feel like an unbearable amount of pressure to focus, especially if you're highly detail-oriented, have a lot on your plate, or even have an attention-deficit disorder. However, you don't have to give up your after-school activities and personal commitments to get all of your work done! While part of our development is learning to sacrifice and prioritize, it is important to find a balance. Using your time efficiently and studying effectively are crucial skills best learned ASAP. This discussion aims to help anyone and everyone manage their time better. Though with personally dealing with ADD for years I have lots of techniques to share, this will not solely be a lecture. If you have techniques you have found to be effective, we will be sharing them in this discussion. If you don't have techniques to share, that's fine, too. There are plenty to go around!

100+ pages of reading per night is doable. I promise. However, it is not enough to just read, but to *understand* what you have read as well. How can we avoid distractions, headaches, exhaustion, and boredom? Studying and focusing are skills demanded of us in our classes. We are told *what* to do -- to study and be responsible for comprehending material -- but not taught *how* to do it. At least, not in too many different ways. While we are taught how to outline, not everyone has the time to make sure their roman numerals are aligned in their informal notes. There are many different learning styles for many different types of students, and many different techniques should therefore be explored. We will spend time identifying different studying, reading, and note-taking techniques and environmental factors to improve comprehension and retention so you will become better at making good use of your time and energy. Not all techniques will work well for one student. However, finding success with even just one new technique will make a substantial difference in your comprehension and academic performance. Bring your own techniques to share with others, as well, if you would like!

Who would have thought that shape, color, and size have anything to do with the secret to perfecting an essay? The editing process can be arduous at times. We've all been there: after hours spent re-reading this essay start-to-finish, you don't even want to look at it anymore. "Ugh, whatever! I'll just hand it in like this." However, editing doesn't have to be so bad! In this class, we will explore editing techniques they don't teach you in school (but they totally should) that will make the editing process so much less time-consuming and more bearable (dare I say, even, *fun*? No? It's just me? Ok.)