A Manual for Creating Atheists

by Peter Boghossian

Instructor: Peter Boghossian Course Description: In this 8-hour critical thinking class we will think through some difficult questions together, articulate our responses to those questions, and assess our reasoning. Objectives: 1) Learn how to identify consequences 2) Learn how to reason through a problem (problem-solving) 3) Learn how to assess our thinking 4) Learn how to assess our current relationships 5) Learn how to articulate our ideas 6) Develop higher stages of moral reasoning 7) Develop verbal self-control 8) Understand how our identities are formed 9) Understand the roles that pleasure-seeking and gratification play in our lives Class Structure: The class has two separate parts: (1) Discussion Questions, and (2) Discussion Analysis. Part I Discussion Questions Every 25 minutes we will start with a question that is taken, in some form, from the Platonic dialogues (on occasion we may start with a reading from the dialogues). For example, a typical question could be, “How much control do we have over who we are?” We will then think through the question, and pose possible answers. I will participate in the discussion as a guide. The discussion could take any one of a number of unexpected turns. It is okay if it does—evaluating different responses and analyzing those responses is part of the practice of learning. Until you become accustomed to the way that issues will be discussed, this may be perceived as a lack of structure. Also, if you are used to more formal cla...