Rethink Your Own Paradigms

Online Courses Inspired by Content Found on MereLiberty.com

Socratic Seminar

Socratic seminars are small groups, 5-15 people, employing the time-tested method of critical thinking used by Socrates to challenge the paradigms of the people. Seminars promote productive dialogue, civil discourse, critical thought. This is a skill that is learned, and must be practiced or it is lost.

Learn More

OBJECTIVES

Course Objectives & Outcomes

Z

Independent Thinking

  • incorporate new information and insight into your ideas and catch your own mistakes.
Z

Develop self-awareness

  • distinguishing between our reality, and our and other’s impressions of reality.
Z

Develop intellectual integrity

  • holding ourselves to the same standards we hold others.
Z

Developing perseverance

  • cultivate intellectual ‘grit’ – overcoming barriers to understanding
Z

Compare analogous & disanalagous situations

  • transfer insights to new contexts & distinguish un-shared contexts.
Z

Develop intellectual humility

  • recognizing our own limits of knowledge & when to say “I don’t know.”
Z

Critical Feeling

  • self-awareness for our emotional reactions & what they indicate
Z

Analyze the meanings of terms and phrases

  • demonstrate understanding of terms through correct application
Z

Develop confidence in reason

  • Reject coercion and manipulation as means of persuasion
Z

Develop intellectual courage

  • challenging paradigms and being willing to stand on unpopular positions when necessary.
Z

Refine generalizations and avoid oversimplification

  • Simplifying complex ideas without misrepresentation or distortions
Z

Exercise fairmindedness

  • consider strengths of opposing views as well as weaknesses
Z

Clarify issues, conclusions, and beliefs

  • thinking through and articulating our ideas more clearly
Z

Develop your own worldview

  • understanding that our views incorporate both insight and error.

TESTIMONIALS

What Our Students Say

“Creating a dialogue where both participants exhibit mutual respect for each other and seeking to truly understand where the other person is coming from …  Asking thoughtful questions, pausing to really listen, is an invaluable skill I am grateful to be cultivating in my son with Kerry’s help.”

Kimberly Wilkinson

Middle School Seminar, Parent

Read Kimberly's full review

“We have been so thankful to find Kerry Baldwin’s zoom class. Learning about the Socratic method while reading the Tuttle Twins books every week has really been fun and helped not only my teenager but the whole family expand our knowledge of Liberty themed topics and also learn effective ways of communicating with others that have differing ideas. Creating a dialogue where both participants exhibit mutual respect for each other and seeking to truly understand where the other person is coming from is a skill we all need to develop more, especially in today’s reactive social environment. Asking thoughtful questions, pausing to really listen, is an invaluable skill I am grateful to be cultivating in my son with Kerry’s help. I absolutely recommend this class for middle school, high school, and any adult wanting to understand the concepts discussed within this course. I am positive it will pay dividends for many years to come. We will most likely take it again soon!”

“Our kids … they are learning to have these discussions with peers from different backgrounds, hundreds of miles away. This is really a unique experience that isn’t taught anymore.”

Stephen Rose

Middle School Seminar, Parent

Read Stephen's full review

“Our kids are participating in the current semester and it has opened up so many opportunities for discussion on big topics, but also assisting the entire family with learning skills to even have that discussion. As well, they are learning to have these discussions with peers from different backgrounds, hundreds of miles away. This is really a unique experience that isn’t taught anymore, but everyone can benefit from, young and old.
I would like to encourage everyone to look into these seminars for learning how to have discussions while also learning good economic and philosophical concepts.

“It was a very intellectual stimulating and enjoyable 15 weeks. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to learn how to think outside the box.

Thomas Levins

Adult Seminar, Student

Read Thomas' full review

“I have been very fortunate in having the opportunity to cross paths with Kerry Baldwin. Just last weekend I finished her Socratic Seminar For a New Liberty for adults. It was a very intellectual stimulating and enjoyable 15 weeks. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to learn how to think outside the box. I also recommend that you become a member of MereLiberty.com.

“I signed up for the Socratic seminar thinking I’d emerge on the other side as the American version of Jan Helfeld … What I learned instead (and to my betterment) was how to ask questions of myself & the material I was consuming.”

Rachel Watson-Kennerly

Adult Seminar, Student

Read Rachel's full review

“I signed up for the Socratic seminar thinking I’d emerge on the other side as the American version of Jan Helfeld – able to persuade family, friends & strangers on the internet to my points of view by asking them pointed questions to get them thinking. What I learned instead (and to my betterment) was how to ask questions of myself & the material I was consuming. Almost equally important was the opportunity to spend time each week discussing important concepts like self ownership with like minded individuals. Those conversations were often bright spots in what were otherwise intellectually bleak weeks. Of course, getting to read Rothbard was really just the cherry on top of a very fulfilling time. I can’t heap enough praise on Kerry for guiding me on my unexpected journey to become a more critical thinker.

Join me, Kerry Baldwin

as we Dare to Think

The mission of Mere Liberty has always been to challenge and rethink our paradigms for understanding society … in order to encourage individual freedom and responsibility within our own spheres of influence.