Statement of Teaching
Philosophy
My philosophy as a teacher and scholar is rooted in the
values of the liberal arts. I have a
deep-seated belief in the power and value of ideas. This leads me to estimate the value of
education as going far beyond the oft-quoted statistics showing more per capita
income to college graduates. Rather, my
belief is that the value of education lies in its ability to improve the lives
of individuals, and in so doing to improve society. This places a huge and
exhilarating responsibility on teachers: to shed light on the hidden power of
ideas, empower students to make use of those powerful ideas, and help them see
the inherent value of careful thought.
