Teaching philosophical concepts to students can be challenging.
Idealism is, to a significant degree, the opposite of materialism, positivism and skepticism, which stress objectivity. It is subjective by its very nature. Instead of relying on empirical evidence, it stresses the idea that thought is relevant, even though it is intangible and immeasurable. The idea behind the philosophy is that humans filter their experiences based on their own personal biases.
Instructions
1. Read discussions on idealism on websites, such as Changing Minds.org, in preparation for the class discussions to follow. Take notes on the subject matter. Study them until you have a clear understanding of what idealism is in the context of philosophy.
2. Organize the unit using the notes from your own personal study.
3. Test your students' prior knowledge of the material. Start the class discussion by saying the word and asking them what comes to mind when they hear the term "idealism."
4. Explain what the term does not mean in the context of philosophy. Inform them that it does not refer to the attainment of high moral standards, or a state of naivete about the real world. Pause and allow them to think about what you have just said.
5. Discuss the principles that comprise the philosophy of idealism. According to ChangingMinds.org, idealism entails the belief that their experience of life is, for them, their reality. Use examples for them that relate to them as high school or college students. For instance, you could tell them that if a student believes all teachers are "out to get her," then that is her reality--for her, it is true.
6. Assign reading from the writings of the great idealist philosophers. Give them readings that provide a well-rounded view of the topic, presenting all three types of idealism--Neo Kantism, rational choice theory and phenomenology/hermaneutics.
7. Lead the class discussions in a way emphasizes student, rather than teacher, participation. Allow the students to openly share their perceptions of the readings. This way you are demonstrating the principles of the philosophy as you teach it in your classroom. In other words, you are encouraging your students to think.
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