"It Begins with a Question: An Introduction to Philosophy" is a pioneering philosophy text designed to be a companion to online learning and instruction. The book takes advantage of the many opportunities the internet provides for online interaction through embedded video selections, journal writing assignments, group discussions, and WIKIS. This creates an ideal environment for lively participation in philosophical enquiry through online resources familiar to today's students.
The book begins by asking the most basic of questions: what is philosophy? The online videos and video lecture materials introduce students to some of the classic questions of the discipline, and giving students the opportunity to examine this question up front prepares them for later chapters, by demonstrating that simple questions do not necessarily have simple answers.
As students work through the chapters they develop and sharpen their philosophical skills. They learn to ask and answer questions, conduct and engage in dialogue, and use various types of inquiry. Students will also learn about seminal philosophers including Plato and Socrates, Parmenides, St. Anselm, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Immanuel Kant.
"It Begins with a Question" is ideal for introductory philosophy courses. By combining innovative learning through technology with the traditional content of introductory philosophy courses, the book teaches classical content in a modern, high-interest, and student-friendly way.
K.D. "Douglas" Borcoman has been an adjunct and full-time professor of philosophy for over 20 years, during which time he has taught many critical thinking, logic, and introduction to philosophy courses. He was also the Instructional Technology Consultant for the California State University Academic Technology Unit at Dominguez Hills, where he trained faculty members in the use of various educational technologies. During his career, Mr. Borcoman has been a Deputy Probation Counselor as well as an alternative correctional education instructor specializing in technology as a mentor teacher. In these capacities, he created many critical thinking learning opportunities for participants in his courses, often conducted in conjunction with the NASA Educators program. He is also the producer-director of a video series entitled "Critical Thinking Through Dialogue."