Philosophy Camp 2025: Do We Know with Our Heads or Hearts?

Do We Know with Our Heads or Hearts?

What does it mean to know the truth? Is knowledge a purely rational process, or can we also rely on our senses for information? Can you know things in your soul without knowing them in your mind? How do you know that what you perceive is real? In our current post-truth cultural moment, such questions have never been more relevant. Join us this summer, as we examine this age-old human endeavor of pursuing knowledge. Drawing from historic thinkers such as Descartes, Aquinas, and Montaigne, as well as modern philosophers such as Michael Polyani, Hubert Dreyfus, and Simone Weil, we will explore various philosophical frameworks of knowledge. We will use this content to examine what it means to pursue an active and holistic understanding of God, ourselves, and the world.

This five-day course is led by Ellie Peters. Class time will be supplemented by guest speakers, field trips around the UMN campus, and activities to help bring the ideas we are considering to life. Lunch and snacks provided.

About Ellie Peters

Ellie Peters works at Anselm House as an executive assistant and operations manager and teaches in the student Fellows Program on the side. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Davidson College. Before coming to Anselm House, she spent her career teaching high school-level humanities in a Christian Classical school. She is passionate about exploring the big human questions alongside students and seeing their minds and hearts wake up to God’s world and their place within it in the process.

Time & Location

Daily, Monday - Friday, June 23–27, 2024, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM CDT

Type & Eligibility

This is an in-person day camp for high school students. No lodging will be provided. No virtual option.

No prior exposure to the study of philosophy is necessary, just the willingness to read the assigned texts, to learn from Ms. Ellie Peters and possible guest speaker(s), and to dialogue with peers. Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors are all eligible to participate.

Deadline of Registration

June 7, 2024. Limited space, 20 students, available.

Fees

The Anselm Philosophy Camp fee is $425.

The camp fee covers course materials and lunch for the duration of the camp.

Early Bird rate of $390 through April 25 (use code EARLY)

Fees are refundable until June 1, 2024 (but non-refundable after)

Note: If fewer than 8 students are registered for this camp by June 6, 2025, this camp will be canceled and fees will be refunded.

Reading List

Some readings may be mailed to campers before June 15. Electronic readers may also be available for some readings.

Dates to Remember

April 25, 2024: Last day of early registration

June 2, 2024: Last day of refunds

June 13, 2024: Early readings mailed and received.

For Parents

We may take pictures or film onsite for marketing & documentation purposes. By registering, you grant permission to Anselm House to take photos or film during the summer camp.

*For late registrations, please email aGVsbG8gfCBhbnNlbG1ob3VzZSAhIG9yZw== and a2VuZHJhcyB8IGFuc2VsbWhvdXNlICEgb3Jn.

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