Powerful Philosophical Enlightenment (PPE)

Imagine a full class load with some Advanced Placement courses likely mixed in, topped off with a healthy selection of demanding arts and sports, as well as all the other commitments that Brentwood life thrusts at its students. Most people in this situation would find themselves at full working capacity. Twenty-three dedicated students, however, decided to add even more to their schedule by taking an extra course: Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE). About once every three weeks, on Friday nights when the rest of the school is busy finishing up homework for the weekend, this group of intellectual and motivated thinkers, all of whom are also a part of Brentwood’s debate program, gather in a classroom during prep to discuss philosophical, economic, and political contentions, issues, and topics. This course is comprised of Grade 11 and 12 students with an interest in learning more about the society we live in today, and who are willing to put in the effort and time to engage in thought-provoking discussions during the times that we meet, as well as writing papers and participating in debates throughout the year. The ultimate goal of this extra course is a credit for Philosophy 12, but these meetings also teach students to think critically about the way we live our lives. Our first meeting began with a discussion of values, morals, and different perspectives on what is good, true, and understood in different cultural contexts. From the first five minutes in there were thoughtful comments and lively debate from everyone in the room. Meeting number two tackled the philosophies of great ancient thinkers, particularly Plato, including his ideas of forms, and the pursuit of the good, the true, and the beautiful. This was followed in the week after by a series of debates on the resolution “This House believes that the allegory of Plato’s Cave has no relevance in the world today”. Interesting arguments and unique perspectives arose from all teams on both sides of the debate. Our third and most recent meeting focused on different ideas of how to achieve ultimate goodness and happiness, featuring a comparison of the ideals of Epicureanism and Stoicism. As a student in this course put it, “This course has been an amazing part of my academic experience at Brentwood. Talking about philosophy, politics, and economics with my peers is a really unique experience, and I look forward to it every month!” said Sofia K, Allard ‘21. Thank you, on behalf of all the students in PPE, to Mr. Bryant and Ms. Steele-MacInnis for all the effort and time they put into preparing and teaching this engaging and intriguing course and opening all of our minds. Sarah R, Mackenzie ‘20