Colorado high school students will discuss the meaning of life, existentialism and other perplexing topics at the Summer Philosophy Institute of Colorado the week of July 25-31 on the 抖阴短视频-Boulder campus.
The Summer Philosophy Institute, or SPICO, is a summer residential program designed to give Colorado students in grades nine through 12 or recently graduated from high school, an intensive introduction to traditional areas of philosophy, as well as college life. Students will be living in the residence halls and attending six hours of class each day involving lectures, debates and readings of classical and contemporary philosophers.
Students are selected based on an essay they write describing their interest in philosophy. Participants pay $400 to attend the institute, however need-based scholarships are available to cover the fee.
SPICO was set up in 1995 by 抖阴短视频-Boulder's philosophy department and the 抖阴短视频-Boulder Center for Values and Social Policy to attract potential college students into the area of philosophy. At 抖阴短视频-Boulder there are roughly 160 philosophy majors.
Liz Slokar, administrative assistant for the philosophy department, said the program was established "to expose high school students to critical thinking skills that will help them in their high school work, as well as prepare them for college."
"These critical thinking skills will benefit them in whatever they choose to study," Slokar said. "People do all kinds of things with a philosophy degree."
From preparing for law school to entering fields in computer science, Slokar said that employers look for people who can use this type of knowledge to analyze situations and solve problems effectively.
The program also was established to bring in more students who come from ethnically, economically and geographically diverse backgrounds. This summer, 28 students will be participating in the program coming from places as close as Denver to as far away as Campo and Ouray.
"We want to encourage both economically disadvantaged and culturally diverse students to pursue their education at the college level," Slokar said. "We continue to draw students from all areas of the state in our outreach efforts."