Projects
This page is a curated collection of well-written, step-by-step guides for learning Philosophy through hands-on, project-based practice.
What I cannot create, I do not understand — Richard Feynman.
These projects are meant to support learning throughout the curriculum, not only at the end.
By building, writing, creating, or reconstructing real artifacts in the field, learners develop practical understanding alongside theoretical study.
Tutorials
- philosophical arguments
- thought experiments
- definitions
- ethical theories
- political philosophies
- interpretations of classic texts
- philosophical essays
- objections and replies
- critiques of existing positions
Write your own philosophical arguments
- Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper — Jim Pryor (Detailed step-by-step guide)
- Philosophy Writing Guide — Swarthmore College (Structured argumentation walkthrough)
Construct your own thought experiments
- How to use thought experiments — David R. MacIver (Practical guide to creating and applying them)
- A Primer on Thought Experiments — Great Thinkers (Step-by-step on deploying and crafting)
Formulate your own definitions
- Definitions — Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Analytical guide to types and construction)
- Lessons in Logic 49: How to Make Good Definitions (YouTube) (Video tutorial on rules for good definitions)
Develop your own ethical theories
- A Framework for Ethical Decision Making — Markkula Center (Step-by-step to build ethical positions)
- A Framework for Making Ethical Decisions — Brown University (Consequentialist/duty/virtue frameworks for theory development)
Build your own political philosophies
- How to Self-Learn Political Philosophy (An 8-Step Roadmap) — Knowledge Lust (Sequential guide adaptable to constructing views)
Reconstruct your own interpretations of classic texts
- How to Write a Philosophy Paper — UNC Writing Center (Includes argument reconstruction steps applicable to texts)
Write your own philosophical essays
- A Guide to Writing Philosophy Papers — GWU (Step-by-step essay construction)
- How to Write a Philosophy Paper (Basics) — YouTube series (Video walkthrough)
Formulate your own objections and replies
- Philosophy - The Writing Center — UNC (Counterargument and reply structuring)
Write your own critiques of existing positions
- Guidelines on Writing a Philosophy Paper — Jim Pryor (Critique and defense steps)
- How to Write a Philosophy Paper — CMC (Critiquing arguments guide)