Project Vox philosophers made important contributions to ethical, political, scientific and literary debates that are commonly taught in high school English Language Arts and social studies courses. We offer a set of flexible lesson plans that help high school teachers incorporate texts and ideas from these philosophers into their existing curricula. These lessons allow students to engage in philosophical inquiry, sharpen their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills, and satisfy curricular standards.
If you have questions, comments, or ideas, reach out to us at projectvox@duke.edu.
The Nature of Love: Tullia d’Aragona and Romeo & Juliet
Fifty years before Shakespeare published Romeo and Juliet, Italian poet and philosopher Tullia d’Aragona published her Dialogue on the Infinity of Love. D’Aragona argues that the highest form of love is rational. In this lesson, students examine d’Aragona’s arguments about love and consider what they reveal about Romeo and Juliet.
Time: 90 min. • Grades: 9-10 • Suggested Courses: English Language Arts courses (including AP)
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Querelle des Femmes and Women’s Right to Education
What is a woman? From the 14th to the 17th century, this question defined a set of intellectual debates across Europe known as the Querelle des Femmes or the Woman Question. In this lesson, students examine arguments made by women philosophers during the 16th century in Venice in defense of their own right to education.
Time: 50-90 min. • Grades: 9-12 • Suggested Courses: History and English Language Arts courses (including AP)
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What’s Wrong with Hypocrisy? Analyzing Abolitionist Arguments in America and Europe
This lesson focuses on abolitionist texts written by Benjamin Banneker in the U.S. and Germaine de Staël in Europe near the turn of the 19th century. Both authors claim that their audiences are hypocrites for continuing to support slavery. Students will consider what it means to be a hypocrite, examine the arguments Banneker and Staël make, and arrive at their own ethical position(s) regarding hypocrisy.
Time: 85 min. • Grades: 9-12 • Suggested Courses: U.S., European, and world history courses (including AP); AP African American Studies; English Language Arts courses (including AP)
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