Splash Biography

We will learn about the philosophical system of the inventor of calculus, Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz. The lecture will cover his work titled "The Monadology". This text is one of the most famous works in the history of philosophy. Learning it will show you just how much philosophy can inspire you to think outside of the box. The Monadology is the best first exposure to philosophy that I can think of. We will try to understand why Leibniz thought the physical world does not exist, why all objects have minds, why God exists, why the whole universe is One, why God lets bad things happen to you, why it is impossible to punch someone, and why you are a fish. Yes, the guy who invented calculus really believed all of this. If you want to know why, take this course. You are welcome to read The Monadology before the lecture, but this is by no means required. In fact, I encourage you not to read it unless you are willing to discuss what you've read with at least one friend or family member before the lecture. The text is very strange, and 90% of the fun with reading it is commenting out loud on how Leibniz was out of his mind. If you read it by yourself and never say a word out loud about it, you will get very little out of it.

Have you ever wondered what crazy stories were hiding in history books? The way history is usually taught in high school, most kids find themselves falling asleep. Who wants to memorize dates? That's not where the magic of history is - the magic is in the stories! This class will take a look at some interesting historical figures (and maybe some animals!) that students are not likely to have heard of, and the stories that make them so interesting.

Have you ever wondered what crazy stories were hiding in history books? The way history is usually taught in high school, most kids find themselves falling asleep. Who wants to memorize dates? That's not where the magic of history is - the magic is in the stories! This class will take a look at some interesting historical figures (and maybe some animals!) that students are not likely to have heard of, and the stories that make them so interesting.

Have you ever wondered what crazy stories were hiding in history books? The way history is usually taught in high school, most kids find themselves falling asleep. Who wants to memorize dates? That's not where the magic of history is - the magic is in the stories! This class will take a look at some interesting historical figures (and maybe some animals!) that students are not likely to have heard of, and the stories that make them so interesting.