One of my proudest moments...
A couple of years ago, I was teaching at a summer school run by my then university. It was designed for kids who wouldn't normally stay in school beyond 16, let alone think about a degree, and was supposed to get them considering higher education.

I was running a couple of sessions on medial ethics, but I made sure to give a general introduction to what philosophy in the widest sense is all about. A good example for kids like that is the Matrix analogy. How do they know - if they know at all - that they aren't brains in vats tied to a computer in an otherwise empty universe? And if we can't even be sure that we're not, how the hell can we be sure of anything else? I tried that out with them as a warm-up to the main show.

The following evening, the last of the summer school, there was a dinner for the kids. One of the more talkative ones came up to me.
"I'd like to make a complaint," he beamed.
"Oh, yes?"
"Yes. I couldn't sleep last night, and it's your fault."
"Ummmm... go on..."
"I was wondering whether I was actually dreaming all this, and the more I thought about it, the more confused I became. And I couldn't sleep in the end."

GOTCHA!
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 15:51, 5 replies)

aww
I'm so proud of you, you headwrecking little b3tard!
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 15:53, closed)

...
Actually, I did kinda well up. Here was someone who, 36 hours earlier, had never even heard of the subject, and possibly would never even have done A-levels. And now he was telling me he wanted to be a philosopher and asking me what he should read. Life-affirming, I tells ya...
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 15:56, closed)

^
yes, my dear Dr E - what the world needs is another philosopher... :)
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 16:09, closed)

heh
"I blame you - you made me think!"

Think you can get fired over that?
( Far Out Slave last ate at, Thu 17 Apr 2008, 16:49, closed)

well done!
there's nothing like a little existential uncertainty to open their minds
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Fri 18 Apr 2008, 1:42, closed)