Mentoring
Philosophy Is Better in Conversation
The curriculum is built for study on your own. But philosophy has always been done in dialogue, and sometimes you want a reader for your writing or a guide for your reading group. Mentoring is available on request, for individuals and for self-organized groups.
For One
One-on-One Mentoring
A conversation about the philosophy you are working through, or a careful reading of something you have written.
- —Talk through a text, a thinker, or a problem you are stuck on.
- —Get feedback on an essay, including your capstone, in writing or in conversation.
- —Plan a course of study that fits your interests and your time.
For Groups
Group Mentoring
Gather your own reading group, then bring in a mentor for the sessions where a guide helps most.
- —Open a new text with a session on how to read it and what to watch for.
- —Check in midway when the group hits a hard stretch.
- —Close a section with a discussion of what you have read, or of each other's essays.
Starting a group? The Reading Group Kit covers finding members, ground rules, and how to run a session.
How It Works
Mentoring is by request and the mentor sets their price. You set the agenda and pace.
- 1.
Do the Groundwork
Choose the text, section, or essay you want to work on. If you are forming a group, find your people (friends, coworkers, a library or online community), and agree on what you will read and when you will meet.
- 2.
Send a Request
Say who you are (or who is in your group and how many), what you are working on, what kind of help you want, and when you would like to meet. If you want feedback on writing, attach it.
- 3.
Hear Back
Your mentor replies with availability and terms. Nothing is scheduled or owed until you both agree.
Mentors
Mona Mona holds a PhD in Philosophy from Stony Brook University and has taught philosophy and gender studies at Grinnell College and UC Berkeley. More about Mona Mona.
Areas of Specialty: Ancient Philosophy, 20th Century Continental Philosophy (esp. Poststructuralism), and Feminist Philosophy and Gender Theory.
More mentors will be added soon.
Request Mentoring
The button opens an email with the questions from step 2 already filled in. Answer what you can.