Testimonials

Rates

Introduction to Philosophy

Introduction to Logic

Ethical Theory

Applied Ethics

Political Philosophy

Metaphysics

Evolutionary Arguments

Philosophy of Religion

Faith and Works

The Law and Grace

The Gospel of John

Wings of Steel

As you will see by looking at the list of my packaged seminars, I have an emphasis on philosophical presentations.  This focus is not only because of my background and training, but it is also because I have come to realize the extent to which many people find it difficult to "keep up" with the increasingly sophisticated intellectual demands of this society.

"Knowledge is power," so it is said, yet the problem is that people have an increasing sense that they cannot know the real story on a host of issues that affect them.  Public debates on current issues demand that we vote and "take a side," yet it is often difficult or impossible for the average person to find the time to really investigate the factors that would go into making an informed decision.  So, today, much voting is almost random. Or, tiny media clips and one-paragraph summaries in voter pamphlets are the most "sophisticated" information people have the background to digest.

Our society was once extremely philosophical, with the average person having at least some training in rhetoric and argumentation.  But as our society has become more and more specialized, people have largely lost touch with the philosophical underpinnings of the major issues.

Should Roe v. Wade be overturned? What about gay marriage? Should creation science be taught alongside evolutionary theory in science classrooms? These are just a few current issues that demand careful and reasonable thinking. Would you like to understand these (and many other) issues better, so that you can responsibly evaluate your present perspective or have a more defensible foundation for it?

If you would like to be a responsible (rather than merely embattled) voter, if you would like to understand (even if only for yourself) how to get to the heart of the issues, or if you would simply like to keep your intellectual wheels running smoothly, you will find one of my seminars to be extremely stimulating.

Perhaps you have life choice or business questions that you would just like to bounce off of an analytical and objective mind. I am also available for all sorts of consultations, and many can be handled right over the phone. See my consultations page by clicking here.

Why a Seminar -- Most people cannot afford to go back to school just to take some courses that would help them become more intellectually sophisticated and put them in touch with the details that underlie current issues.  Yet, outside of a university classroom, where do you turn to get serious intellectual training?  You would likely never think of hiring a tutor on an individual basis, and the costs of such individualized training would be prohibitive.

You might go to your local community college to try to save some money. For example, the Walla Walla Community College that is local to me charges $307 for a four-unit course. However, then it is luck of the draw if you get a decent teacher. And, most of the courses I offer are not available through a community college. So, to have any hope of getting the sort of variety and quality I offer, you must attend a university.

Of course, you might just buy a bunch of books on a topic and begin working your way through them. But there are problems with that approach. Which books are actually credible and well-argued? In other words, which books are worth your time? What do you do when you encounter technical terms and arguments that you just don't understand? Where do you find the time and gain the background to just jump into the middle of a large mass of materials?

As with any significant study, you benefit much by learning from somebody who already has the background, somebody who knows what is worth reading and what is not, somebody who can help you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls, and somebody who can answer your questions right then as you read.  These benefits are what students enjoy in the classroom. But I bring the classroom to you.

My seminars give you the opportunity to receive a classroom-like experience, taking what is in effect a university-level course, learning from a demonstrably excellent, fully qualified, and experienced professor, for a tiny fraction of the cost.  While it is true that you gain no "college credit" for such a "course," that is not the purpose or focus of such a seminar anyway; and my seminars do not impose the out-of-classroom workload or time commitment that a college course does.  So, my seminars provide you with carefully structured and beautifully presented exposure to the depth and breadth of thinking surrounding current issues; and the cost and out-of-classroom time commitments are dramatically reduced compared to a college course.

Finally, to be blunt, unfortunately often what passes for college philosophy is poorly taught, seemingly irrelevant, and uninspiring.  By contrast, as you will see by the testimonials from my students and seminar-attendees (and these are honestly and genuinely representative), at one of my seminars, you will be engaged, involved, and extremely intellectually stimulated.  You will enjoy the experience!

How It Works -- The most common way a seminar is set up is that a club, church group, or business will arrange for people to attend, collect the attendance fees, and then remit to me my fees and travel/lodging expenses.  This way a number of interested people can get together to make a seminar affordable. Also, a group like this can typically provide a venue for the seminar. I can arrange for a venue in your area, but that will undoubtedly cost your group more.  I am very flexible about meeting locations; I have met with groups in private homes, off-hours college classrooms, churches, and so on. If I have access to a whiteboard or blackboard and a little room to move around, I'm happy.

For each seminar, I supply a large number of hand-outs. I also supply a book-list and reading schedule at the time the seminar is arranged, which gives participants plenty of time to order the book(s) from whatever book store offers the best price.

The typical seminar is five evenings each week for two weeks, so I will travel to your location and stay there during the entire time.

Each session is typically three hours, including at least one fifteen-minute break. So, people would commit to, say, a 6-9 pm block each evening for ten evenings.  There is a some flexibility in scheduling the blocks.  For example, people might agree to meet for two hours each evening for fourteen evenings instead.

There is a significant amount of material to get through in order to handle a subject responsibly, yet it is rarely cost effective (and I must charge more) for a more extended commitment.  So, the most reasonable compromise typically proves to be a two week commitment. If your group has other ideas, I'm happy to hear them.

During my two-week stay in your area, you will find me totally accessible for "out of classroom" meetings and discussions. I am there to serve you, and the "in classroom" time is just the beginning of my commitment to your intellectual growth.

I can arrange any seminar with or without writing assignments. There is less "out of classroom" time commitment to you without writing assignments.  On the other hand, I am an extremely effective writing teacher, and you will learn any material much better when you have to write about it. So, if you want to become a better writer during your seminar, I am there to help you.

At the end of each seminar, you will have the opportunity to evaluate me. I take your evaluations seriously; they help me to improve as a presenter.

Non-Listed Seminars -- I have a large number of packaged seminars that I don't list because they are rarely requested. These include such topics as Existentialism, Feminist Philosophy, and others. So, if your group has an interest in a topic you don't see listed, just ask. I might well already have a seminar on that topic ready to go.