Roger asked:

What is your philosophy of teaching? What do you like most and least about teaching philosophy? Is
there a philosophical perspective that you want your students to learn? Of what benefit is philosophy
to a student in science and technology? Do you have a reading list of books you'd recommend to the
layman who has not studied philosophy? I look forward to reading your input about these matters.

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I don't understand the meaning of the words, 'teaching', 'education'. I don't see how teaching or
education can achieve what they are meant to achieve. I believe in learning.In Pathways, students
are not educated or taught, they learn. Learning is an active process of inquiry under the control and
motivation of the learner, whereas being taught is passive. I am guide and mentor to my students, not
their 'teacher'.

I believe in lifelonglearning, because the active process of self-motivated inquiry has no natural end.
We should never cease to learn, to inquire, all our lives.

I am a learner, and I seek to learn from my students. That is what is so great about being a
philosophical mentor. I am happy to admit when one of my students knows more than I do, when I
can learn from them. The one thing I hate is grading and awarding marks. Thankfully, that is
something I never have to do. I leave that to the Philosophical Society Examiner!

I have my own philosophical perspective, my views which I hold with more or less confidence, in a
range of philosophical areas: metaphysics, ethics, philosophy of mind and language, logic. I have no
desire that my students should acquire my perspective, or believe the things that I believe. I am much
happier when a student disagrees with me than when they agree with me.

As a student of science and technology, philosophy will benefit you because it will make you more
flexiblein your inquiries. Philosophy asks us to see things differently.That is what all the great
discoverers, innovators and inventors have been able to do. From philosophy, you will also learn the
true value of what you do. Science and technology are beautiful things, to one who has learned to
appreciate their particular form of beauty.

If you are looking for books to get started in your philosophical inquiries, you might like to take a look
at the Pathways Introductory Book List. Enjoy!

Geoffrey Klempner